HEATCOST

Health effects and associated socio-economic costs of increasing temperatures and wildfires – A global assessment

Apr 12

Written By Ubåt

Health effects and associated socio-economic costs of increasing temperatures and wildfires – A global assessment

Summary

Climate projections suggest enhanced probability of severe heat waves and extreme heat may increase air pollution levels. The risk of wildland fires increases during periods of extreme heat and decreasing precipitation, causing intense air pollution. Extreme heat and air pollution both increase health risks, and may amplify each other’s effects on health.

The HEATCOST project aims to quantify the changes in mortality and morbidity related to heart and lung diseases and associated economic costs due to extreme heat and air pollution (including from wildfires) under alternative climate and socioeconomic scenarios.

The health risk varies by region, population vulnerability, the built environment and other factors. Populations at highest risk include older adults, children, socially isolated individuals, and individuals with chronic diseases. Health effects due to heat and air pollution is largely preventable to the extent that adaptation measures can be tailored to alleviate contextual and individual vulnerability factors for vulnerable populations.

HEATCOST will address key knowledge gaps listed by the IPCC and the U.S Global Change Research Program (USGCRP):

published health risk projections do not adequately reflect the adaptation to a changing climate;
there is a lack of knowledge and appropriate models regarding possible interactive effects of extreme heat and air pollution;
the gap between the approach of global models and observational data for quantitative projections of the costs associated with heat, air pollution and health risks.