In February 2004, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Environment Agency organized an expert meeting to exchange information and develop recommendations on public health and environmental responses to weather and climate extremes, floods, heat-waves and cold spells. The meeting was kindly hosted by the Ministry of Health of Slovakia. The meeting recommendations were adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Budapest, Hungary, 2004.

This book reflects a collection of case studies and experiences of experts, ministries and international organizations. It gives an overview of various topics, such as:

- Will climate change alter climate variability?

- The 2003 European heat-wave

- The health impacts of temperature extremes

- Public health responses to temperature extremes

- The health impacts of floods

- Case studies on health system responses to extreme events

The Climate Dilemma

Projected Changes in Extreme Weather and Climate Events in Europe
Is the Frequency and Intensity of Flooding Changing in Europe?
Bio-climatological Aspects of Summer 2003 Over France
Improving Public Health Responses to Extreme Weather Events
Cold Extremes and Impacts on Health
Temperature Regulation, Heat Balance and Climatic Stress
Health Impact of the 2003 Heat-Wave in France
Portugal, Summer 2003 Mortality: the Heat Waves Influence
The Effect of Temperature and Heat Waves on Daily Mortality in Budapest, Hungary, 1970 - 2000
Epidemiologic Study of Mortality During Summer 2003 in Italian Regional Capitals: Results of a Rapid Survey
Heat Waves in Italy: Cause Specific Mortality and the Role of Educational Level and Socio-Economic Conditions
Lessons of the 2003 Heat-Wave in France and Action Taken to Limit the Effects of Future Heat-Waves
Examples of Heat Health Warning Systems: Lisbon's ÍCARO's Surveillance System, Summer of 2003
Lessons from the Heat-Wave Epidemic in France (Summer 2003)
How Toronto and Montreal (Canada) Respond to Heat
Lessons to be Learned from the 2002 Floods in Dresden, Germany
The Human Health Consequences of Flooding in Europe: a Review
Mortality in Flood Disasters
Key Policy Implications of the Health Effects of Floods
Learning From Experience: Evolving Responses to Flooding Events in the United Kingdom
Extreme Weather Events in Bulgaria for the Period 2001 - 03 and Responses to Address Them
2002 - A Year of Calamities. The Romanian Experience
A System of Medical Service to Assist the Population of Uzbekistan in the Case of Natural Catastrophes
Moscow Smog of Summer 2002. Evaluation of Adverse Health Effects
Extreme Weather Events: What can We do to Prevent HealthImpacts?
Public Health Response to Extreme Weather and Climate Events
Follow-up Programme on the Influence of Meteorological Changes Upon Cardiac Patients.