146
6.2.5 Adaptation Strategy to Heat Risk: Assessment
of a Possible Development of the Heat Risk Alert System
Based on the Use of Emergency Ambulance Data
Increased temperatures and extreme heat can lead to a rise in mortality. In EU countries, mortality is estimated to increase by 1–4 % for each one-degree rise in temperature, meaning that heat related mortality could rise by 30 000 deaths per year by
the 2030s and 50 000–110 000 deaths per year by the 2080s.
As regard to the National level the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Civil Protection, an “Early warning national system to prevent heat
waves” has been operating since 2004, after the terrible summer of 2003.
Furthermore, in 2005 a “National Operational Plan to prevent effects on human
health from heat waves” was issued, and in 2006 “Guidelines to prepare monitoring
plans in order to respond to heat waves” were provided to assist local authorities:
http://www.salute.gov.it/emergenzaCaldo/paginaInternaMenuEmergenzaCaldo.jsp
?id=413&menu=strumentieservizi
In coordination with national plan in Emilia-Romagna, a risk prevention local
plan was designed and implemented to reduce the risk of damage and casualties due
to summer heat waves.
Every year the plan guidelines are updated by the Emilia-Romagna Regional
Government while ARPA (Regional Agency for Environmental Protection) issues
forecasts throughout the summer.
The adaptation action then consists of:
– Alert system managed by ARPA, alerting when temperature and humidity level
raise above a risky threshold
– Emilia-Romagna Regional Government coordination actions to assist most
exposed people groups.
6.2.5.1 Alert System
ARPA Emilia-Romagna has been endeavouring to provide forecasting systems of
some environmental risk factors to local authorities for several years now. Among
such factors, the prediction of heat waves has gained relevance, particularly in relation to climate change projections for the coming decades.
The heat waves forecast service has been operating since 2004. ARPA EmiliaRomagna manages a specific website platform: http://www.arpa.emr.it/index.
asp?idlivello=97
The forecast service is active between 15 May and 15 September. The forecast is
done with 72 h forewarning.
S. Zauli Sajani et al.
6.2.5 Adaptation Strategy to Heat Risk: Assessment
of a Possible Development of the Heat Risk Alert System
Based on the Use of Emergency Ambulance Data
Increased temperatures and extreme heat can lead to a rise in mortality. In EU countries, mortality is estimated to increase by 1–4 % for each one-degree rise in temperature, meaning that heat related mortality could rise by 30 000 deaths per year by
the 2030s and 50 000–110 000 deaths per year by the 2080s.
As regard to the National level the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Civil Protection, an “Early warning national system to prevent heat
waves” has been operating since 2004, after the terrible summer of 2003.
Furthermore, in 2005 a “National Operational Plan to prevent effects on human
health from heat waves” was issued, and in 2006 “Guidelines to prepare monitoring
plans in order to respond to heat waves” were provided to assist local authorities:
http://www.salute.gov.it/emergenzaCaldo/paginaInternaMenuEmergenzaCaldo.jsp
?id=413&menu=strumentieservizi
In coordination with national plan in Emilia-Romagna, a risk prevention local
plan was designed and implemented to reduce the risk of damage and casualties due
to summer heat waves.
Every year the plan guidelines are updated by the Emilia-Romagna Regional
Government while ARPA (Regional Agency for Environmental Protection) issues
forecasts throughout the summer.
The adaptation action then consists of:
– Alert system managed by ARPA, alerting when temperature and humidity level
raise above a risky threshold
– Emilia-Romagna Regional Government coordination actions to assist most
exposed people groups.
6.2.5.1 Alert System
ARPA Emilia-Romagna has been endeavouring to provide forecasting systems of
some environmental risk factors to local authorities for several years now. Among
such factors, the prediction of heat waves has gained relevance, particularly in relation to climate change projections for the coming decades.
The heat waves forecast service has been operating since 2004. ARPA EmiliaRomagna manages a specific website platform: http://www.arpa.emr.it/index.
asp?idlivello=97
The forecast service is active between 15 May and 15 September. The forecast is
done with 72 h forewarning.
S. Zauli Sajani et al.