Abstract

In the coming years, our living environment will change drastically due to climate change and population growth. Space will be needed for building homes and an energy system without fossil fuels. Furthermore, the design of urban and rural environments must be adapted to climate change. The challenge is to manage these changes in such a way that they contribute to the quality of the living environment and the health of current and future generations.

The living environment may affect health in both positive and negative ways. Around 4.5 per cent of total health loss is due to an unhealthy living environment, with the main causes being air pollution and noise. In urban areas and near large industrial estates and airports, more people suffer from ill health than on average in the Netherlands.

In the future, cleaner air will lead to a decrease in ill health, but climate change will lead to an increase. This is because climate change will lead to more heatwaves, drought and extreme precipitation. Heatwaves and high temperatures are causing more health problems, particularly among the elderly, people with chronic conditions, pregnant women, infants and young children. The effects are already noticeable in areas with an abundance of bricks and asphalt, and in poorly cooled homes. Health prevention policies, such as the national heatwave plan, seem to be effective: the number of heat-related deaths has fallen since the introduction of the plan.

Furthermore, high temperatures may lead to the introduction of new infectious diseases, for example because mosquitoes that carry infectious diseases – such as dengue fever – are better able to survive in the Netherlands. In addition, the pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer, so that people who suffer from hay fever may feel the effects for a longer period of time. On top of that, increased exposure to UV radiation due to less cloud cover and more warm weather will likely result in more people contracting skin cancer.

Climate change also has consequences for the quality and availability of drinking water and food. In addition, more people will experience mental ill health and anxiety related to extreme weather events, such as floods and heatwaves.

The impacts of climate change will be greatest on groups lacking socioeconomic security. These often reside in neighbourhoods with more air pollution, traffic noise, lack of green spaces and more concrete, and in homes that are difficult to keep cool.

On the other hand, measures to mitigate the effects of climate change also offer opportunities to improve the living environment and health. Among other things, creating green neighbourhoods is vital to prevent heat stress and to buffer rainwater. A green environment also has health benefits: it encourages people to engage in physical activity, relax and meet each other. Moreover, the reduced use of fossil fuels will improve air quality and thereby health. Taking the bike instead of the car more often, and eating fewer meat and dairy products, leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and has health benefits as well. In conclusion, it is essential to consider health when drafting climate and spatial planning policy.