Climate change and health: Directions for policy

The climate is changing, and this is happening faster than expected. Climate change also has consequences for health. In a joint advisory report, the Health Council and the Scientific Climate Council make recommendations to better protect the population against the health risks of climate change.

Due to climate change, people are increasingly exposed to high temperatures, UV radiation, summer smog and pollen. In addition, the risk of outbreaks of existing and new infectious diseases is increasing. The risk of heat waves, extreme precipitation and natural disasters is also increasing, with consequences for physical and mental health. With the current policy, the population is insufficiently protected against the health risks of climate change.

The councils recommend developing preventive policy to better protect the population and to be better prepared for new risks. They recommend starting with groups that are more at risk of health damage from climate change than others. This mainly concerns groups that have difficulty avoiding or adapting to climate change. The Caribbean Netherlands also deserves priority, because the climate-related health risks here are more serious and more diverse.