Climate change in Cyprus: a health perspective

Cyprus, the picturesque island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean, is not immune to the far-reaching consequences of climate change. The country has long experienced scorching summers, and increasingly extreme periods of hot temperatures pose a significant threat to public health, accompanied by long-term challenges such as water scarcity.

Climate change and health was high on the agenda as Cyprus hosted the Tenth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative on 11-12 April. The meeting brought together all 11 Small Countries Member States of the WHO European Region, with populations of 2 million or less, as well as European Commission representatives and observers from the Seychelles and the Republic of Moldova.

"I am deeply concerned about the pressing health risks that climate change poses to our country," said Michael Damianos, Minister of Health of Cyprus, as he welcomed the delegates from the WHO European Region and beyond. "Cyprus, situated in the climate change hotspot of the Eastern Mediterranean, stands as a front-line nation in the battle against climate change. Its impacts are multifaceted, ranging from record-high temperatures and prolonged heatwaves to devastating fires and water scarcity, which we have already been facing. Last July was the warmest July on record in the past 4 decades, and at the beginning of this April we had high temperatures above 30 °C."

The health impacts of environmental degradation and climate change add to wider challenges faced by Cyprus's health system, including the burden of noncommunicable diseases, health workforce shortages, and the need for strengthened preparedness for health emergencies.

Emerging health threats

As climate change alters ecosystems, invasive disease vectors like mosquitoes are finding new habitats.

"The impacts of climate change, such as vector-borne diseases and air pollution-related illnesses, are becoming more pronounced," stressed Mr Damianos. "Changes in climate patterns create favourable conditions for the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue and West Nile virus."

Cyprus now has an established presence of Aedes mosquitoes, the vector responsible for transmission of dengue, chikungunya and Zika, as well as Anopheles mosquitoes responsible for malaria transmission. Ecological and socioeconomic factors can create conditions conducive to these diseases. Tracking of potential vector populations, coupled with surveillance of climate-sensitive disease patterns, is vital for identifying areas at risk of vector-borne disease outbreaks. Disease surveillance also needs to be paired with community awareness and other public health measures critical for preventing disease transmission.

"In addition to vector-borne diseases, Cyprus also experiences poor air quality resulting from wildfires and dust storms - such as the one we had last week - posing risks to respiratory health and leading to an increase in respiratory illnesses and exacerbating existing conditions like asthma," said Mr Damianos.

Air pollution, exacerbated by climate change, contributes to premature deaths in Cyprus and beyond, and remains the most significant environmental health risk in the WHO European Region. For 2019, an estimated 569 000 premature deaths can be attributed to ambient air pollution, including more than 300 in Cyprus.

Cutting emissions, investing in health

To address the pressing health risks caused by climate change, Cyprus has implemented a comprehensive set of measures outlined in the National Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan. These include public advisories for heatwave protection, development of emergency plans for health-care facilities, and empowering medical staff to respond effectively to climate-related emergencies.

In January 2020, Cyprus submitted its National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030, as required by the European Union's (EU) binding climate and energy legislation. Accounting for 0.26% of total EU emissions, Cyprus has been reducing its greenhouse gas emissions since 2005, though at a slower pace than the EU average.

However, the country is asserting itself as a regional hub for climate change research, with CARE-C, a €30 million climate change research centre established at the Cyprus Institute in Nicosia, the nation's leading multidisciplinary research institution. The country is also collaborating with regional partners through initiatives like the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative.

Through an alliance of 10 countries, a Regional Action Plan has been developed, supplementing national obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Building on the Declaration on Climate and Health adopted at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) and the climate and health commitments set out in the Declaration of the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, the Member States of the Small Countries Initiative adopted the Cyprus Ministerial Statement, committing to developing standalone or integrated national health and climate action plans by 2026, while also joining ongoing regional initiatives, such as the European Environment and Health Process (EHP) Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action.

Closing the High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge issued a strong call for cooperation and multilateralism.

"We know that we are facing a truly cross-sectoral threat: climate change is linked to antimicrobial resistance, food supply, vector-borne diseases, water scarcity and heat waves," underscored Dr Kluge. "People all over our Region, from young to old, are demanding climate action to protect our planet and our health for generations to come. The momentum generated at last year's COP28 in Dubai must not be lost as we gear up for COP29 in Baku. Last year saw the first-ever day dedicated to health at COP, which was long overdue. This year, we need to move from words to action on climate and health."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.