Betgen, CDBoekhold, SBoomsma, Cvan Dijk, AHall, EFHagens, WLimaheluw, JRuyssenaars, Pvan der Ree, JVersteeg-de Jong, A2024-12-172024-12-172024-12-1710.21945/RIVM-2024-0102https://rivm.openrepository.com/handle/10029/627916The climate is changing worldwide, and therefore also in the Netherlands. The average temperature has increased over the past century. There is more precipitation, there are more periods of dry weather and days with temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius are now more frequent in the Netherlands. RIVM has studied the effects of climate change on our health over the past 30 years (1991-2020). Major health impacts are already visible, and they are expected to increase. This study focuses on the health effects of heat, UV radiation, air quality, (pollen) allergies and infectious diseases due to climate change. Mental health effects are also included. The study illustrates that climate change worsens health and explains how this happens. However, the extent to which this happens is often more difficult to determine because other factors also affect health. More knowledge is needed to get a better picture of the impact of climate change and to be able to give sound advice on policies to protect health. The strongest evidence for the effects of climate change on health concerns the number of additional deaths due to higher average annual temperatures: an average of 250 deaths per year. Climate change leads to warmer days (above 20 degrees Celsius). There are also more heatwaves, which last longer and are hotter. As a result, more people die than usual. Hot and dry weather often occurs at the same time as a lot of pollen in the air and high concentrations of ozone (summer smog). This can make people experience shortness of breath, especially if they already have a respiratory disease. The growing season lasts longer these days, and there is more pollen in the air. This means more people may get hay fever, or their symptoms may worsen. In addition, people are exposed to more UV radiation. This can be, for example, because there are more sun hours, there are fewer clouds and people are outside more in sunny weather. This increases the risk of skin cancer. In addition, certain infectious diseases, such as Legionnaires' disease, are now more common due to climate change. The Legionella bacteria which causes this disease multiplies in warm water and can be inhaled through mist, for example, when it rains hard after a warm and dry period. Furthermore, ticks are active for a longer period of time, increasing the likelihood of getting Lyme disease. Moreover, climate change can have a negative effect on mental health, due to the threat it poses and to experiencing extreme weather. RIVM collated the existing knowledge at the request of PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. PBL is bringing together the knowledge as part of the update of the National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS). In the coming years, PBL will provide an overview of the future consequences of climate change.application/pdfenRIVM rapport 2024-0102Report2024-12-17