Urgent Call for Tangible Actions
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has made a groundbreaking decision, ruling that inadequate climate protection measures violate the right to life and private and family life. This landmark ruling elevates climate protection to a matter of human rights, particularly focusing on the need for climate health action to address heatwaves.
In response, the State Centre for Health NRW (LZG) has identified various groups as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of heat. These include pregnant women, infants and children, older individuals, those with pre-existing conditions, medication users, individuals with limited socioeconomic resources and social isolation, individuals with regular alcohol or drug use, and those who work outdoors or engage in intense sports.
The ECtHR ruling underscores the urgency of climate health action, emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive and gender-equal measures. In line with this, the Action Plan Climate Health NRW proposes measures that specifically address the health risks from extreme weather events such as heatwaves, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
The Action Plan incorporates an intersectional gender analysis to tailor interventions effectively. It proposes targeted outreach and support for vulnerable groups, integration of gender equality principles in climate health strategies, engagement of women and gender-diverse individuals in decision-making processes, audit and analysis of health services and programs, implementation of intersectional approaches, and development of gender-sensitive communication and education campaigns.
These principles and approaches align with broader frameworks seen in gender equality action plans linked to climate and health risks. The Action Plan aims to reduce health risks from extreme heat in vulnerable groups by embedding gender equality and sensitivity in policy design, outreach, healthcare provision, and community engagement to ensure equitable protection and support.
In Germany, more women than men pass away during heatwaves, due to the overrepresentation of older women in the population. Women also more frequently report suffering from sleep problems, fatigue, concentration difficulties, headaches, and circulation issues due to heat compared to men. The ECtHR ruling also emphasizes the particular risk to the health of older women from stronger and longer-lasting heatwaves.
Addressing the health risks associated with climate change is not only crucial for public health but also for the changing job market. Successfully managing the health risks stemming from the climate crisis is essential to ensure a healthy workforce in the face of extreme weather conditions. Climate health is an important consideration in the changing job market, as it is crucial to ensure future-proof workplaces that protect employees' health from the consequences of extreme weather conditions.
Heatwaves increase the risk of premature birth, especially towards the end of pregnancy, for both the mother and the unborn child. Extensive research exists on the health risks of heat for pregnant women and unborn children. The ECtHR ruling highlights the need for climate health action to address heatwaves specifically.
The ECtHR ruling pertains to the first successful climate lawsuit at the ECtHR, setting a precedent for future climate-related cases. The ruling reaffirms the urgency of climate action and the need for gender-sensitive and gender-equal approaches in addressing climate health risks.
[1] Gender Equality Action Plan for Climate and Health Risks (GEAP) [2] Intersectional Approaches to Climate Health Risks (IACHR)
- The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling highlights the need for attention in environmental science, as climate change poses health risks not only for the general population but also for specific groups such as pregnant women and older individuals, boding well for the integration of climate health action in women's health and health-and-wellness strategies.
- In alignment with the ECtHR's focus on gender equality and sensitivity, the Gender Equality Action Plan for Climate and Health Risks (GEAP) incorporates intersectional approaches to Climate Health Risks (IACHR), aiming to address the unique health risks faced by marginalized communities in the context of climate change, particularly focusing on mental-health and environmental-science aspects.
- The urgent need for climate health action is underscored by significant research findings related to climate change, uncovering the adverse impacts on health, from sleep problems and concentration difficulties in women to increased risk of premature birth and heat-related health risks to unborn children. These findings are pivotal in shaping health-and-wellness policies, as well as job market strategies, to ensure a future-proof workforce and appropriate healthcare provisions in the face of climate-change induced extreme weather conditions.
