Climate change has already caused a major public health disaster in Europe, according to the Health and Environment Alliance, an international body which moniters the effects of global warming. The heat wave in August 2003 claimed the lives of 35,000 EU citizens.

Floods, drought and other extreme events all contribute to the health impacts of global change, heat-related illness and air-pollution are the greatest threat to European well-being. The higher temperatures also have an impact on infectious diseases as well as causing food and water problems.

The knock on effects of climate change are also documented, recent forest fires in Spain, Greece and Portugal have led to an increase in hospital admissions for heart and respiratory problems. Further afield in Africa, where Malaria already claims the lives of between 1and 3 million people per-year higher temperatures will lengthen the Malaria season with serious consequences.

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