Climate change has considerable public health implications. In this NCCS priority theme, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is collaborating with to develop a variety of climate services. The climate services serve to protect the public from the health-related effects of increasing heat stress and other risks.
Goals
The goals of this NCCS priority theme are as follows:
- The Confederation will have up-to-date knowledge bases covering the effects of climate change on human health and focusing particularly on heat.
- The Confederation will make knowledge-based information and materials concerning effective prevention measures available to the public, professionals and authorities.
Ongoing projects
The FOPH is currently implementing the following projects on the health-related effects of climate change in cooperation with other federal authorities:
Highlights
Knowledge bases
- Explorative Assessment of the Temperature–Mortality Association to Support Health-Based Heat-Warning Thresholds: A National Case-Crossover Study in Switzerland (Ragettli et al., 2023) (PDF, 1 MB, 15.08.2023)
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A.06 Synthesis Heat and Health (Swiss TPH, 2022) (PDF, 1 MB, 22.09.2022)
Summary of the project (in German).
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Website of project A.06
More information on the project (with summaries in German, French and Italian).
- Heat-related cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Switzerland: a clinical perspective (Schulte, Röösli, Ragettli, 2021) (PDF, 2 MB, 19.10.2021)
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Report «Health effects of heat in Switzerland and the importance of preventive measures. Heat-related deaths during the hot summer of 2019 and comparison with the summers of 2003, 2015 and 2018» (Ragettli & Röösli, 2020) (PDF, 2 MB, 12.07.2023)
This report is available in German and French, a summary in Italian is available.
Information material
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Heat website of the FOPH
The heat website of the FOPH is available in English and provides tips on how to deal with heat as well as what to do in case of symptoms of heat stress. The linked flyers and posters are available in French, German and Italian.
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Toolbox for heat protection measures 2021 (PDF, 1 MB, 31.05.2021)
The toolbox for heat protection measures updated in 2021 by the Swiss Tropical and Health Institute (SwissTPH) is aimed at experts and authorities who wish to protect the public from the effects of heat. The toolbox outlines preventive measures, provides specific tips and shows measures that have already been implemented. The linked version is in German, it is also available in French.
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Heat action plans to prevent heat-related deaths - Experiences in Switzerland (Ragettli & Röösli, 2019)
Cantonal measures can contribute to reducing heat-related mortality.
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Report «The heatwave of summer 2018. Effects on mortality and cantonal prevention measures.» (Ragettli & Röösli 2019) (PDF, 840 kB, 27.02.2020)
Only available in German.
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Heat in cities (UFAM & ARE, 2018) (PDF, 6 MB, 28.11.2018)
As heat stress is particularly prevalent in cities, "Heat in Cities" aims to provide a basis for climate-adjusted urban planning. This report is available in French, German and Italian.
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Online tool on climate adaptation for municipalities
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has developed an online tool on climate adaptation (available in French, German and Italian) which serves to help municipalities by providing an overview of local risks and sharing experiences with concrete measures.
Documents
National
Hitze und Trockenheit im Sommer 2018 (BAFU, 2019) (PDF, 7 MB, 12.07.2023)This report is available only in German.
International
Links
The priority theme uses synergies with the Anpassung an den Klimawandel («Adaptation to climate change») pilot programme:
Spectra articles:
National:
International:
News
Adjustment of heat warnings starting June 2021 (01.06.2021)
Available in French, German and Italian.
New yearly heat mortality monitoring starting from 2023 (10.07.2023)
Available in French, German and Italian.
Last modification 11.04.2024
Contact
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Healthcare and Related Professions Division
National Health Policy Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003 Berne
Tel.: +41 58 463 30 11
gesundheitsstrategien@bag.admin.ch
www.bag.admin.ch