Protecting people from the health impacts of climate change.

The severe extreme weather events of recent years - floods, storms, drought - clearly show the catastrophic effects of climate change. So far, the direct dangers of climate change for our health are less present. At the same time, the forecasts should be taken seriously: with rising temperatures and prolonged periods of heat, more and more people will die from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Particularly susceptible to heat are, among others, chronically ill people such as, for example, diabetics. Allergy sufferers will suffer from year-round pollen count, and asthmatics are threatened by the particularly severe symptoms of so-called “thunderstorm asthma” when storms increase.

Together with partners, we are therefore conducting the NAKO Health Study, the largest long-term population study in Germany. Through this study, we aim to understand the links between the emergence of diseases and environmental influences such as climate change on a deeper level. For this purpose, up to 20 million human samples are stored in Germany's largest biospecimen repository at Helmholtz Munich.

Using data from the NAKO and other international studies, we are developing solutions to prevent disease as best we can and thus contribute to improving people's climate resilience.

(Photo: Jamesboy Nuchaikong/Shutterstock)