Hotter, Wetter, Deadlier: Climate Change’s Influence on Mortality

Dear Colleagues,

There is ample evidence than manmade climate change leads to the accelerating destabilization of our climate. This is manifested in the increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events, including heat waves and wildfires. Not only are heat wave events important due to their adverse effects on health, but weaker evidence has shown some positive effects on cold-related mortality and morbidity. Vulnerable populations are spread all over the planet, but emphasis is placed on the Mediterranean region, which is considered to be a hotspot in all recent IPCC reports. There is high confidence regarding an increase in human exposure as a result of heat waves and flash floods in Mediterranean countries. Their increasing severity and frequency in the coastal zones and in the complex topography of the Mediterranean are expected to result to in an increase in vulnerability in urban centers and their surroundings. Of course, all the health risks are affected by non-climatic causes such as socio-economic status, migration and other human characteristics. Poorer populations and children are more vulnerable, and climate change is likely to widen existing health inequities. Research on the human relicense to climate change is the focus of articles in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Christos Zerefos
Dr. Lida Dimitriadou
Prof. Dr. Luc Hens
Guest Editors

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• climate change
• human mortality
• heatwaves
• cardiorespiratory diseases
• air pollution