LECAS on the climate crisis: documenting two cases in Greece

The climate crisis appears to be far greater than scientists initially predicted and its effects on the economy, society and health are already visible.

Tropical diseases (Zika virus, dengue fever) are coming to Europe as rising temperatures push disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks northward. The World Health Organization considers climate change to be the greatest health threat facing humanity.

“We can’t imagine the consequences.”

Extreme temperatures, droughts, floods, fires will be seen and experienced more often, and “in every disaster we will see unimaginable consequences,” said Professor Efthymios Lekas, professor of dynamic tectonics, applied geography and physics. Disaster Management, EKPA speaks at a conference organized by the Medical Association of Athens, entitled “Modern Challenges of the Professional Doctor”, in the context of the celebrations for its 100 years of operation.

In the Department of Climate Crisis and Health, Mr. Lekas ​​noted that initially the scientific community estimated that the climate crisis would arrive in 2050-2060. However, in 2015, scientists revised this view and opined that it will come as soon as 2040-2045, however, we have been experiencing symptoms of this crisis since 2017.

“These symptoms are particularly dangerous because they can have enormous consequences for the economy, society, environment, but also for health,” said the professor.

Two cases documenting Greece’s climate crisis

Referring to extreme events in Greece, he said that the climate crisis was indeed fully documented by two events in Thessaly with Janos and Daniel.

“Janus first a 1000 year flood, we thought we were the unlucky ones of the millennium, then in the 3 years Daniel came we also had a 1000 year flood.”

In other words, the professor added, there are two 1000-year events in 3 years, which is a complete document of the climate crisis, set in motion events, which is also very important for the health sector.

Mr. Lekas ​​explained that temperature and drought are the first elements that start forest fires with tragic consequences for the environment and atmosphere.

Wildfires, he continued, cause flooding events with landslides, all of which create a cycle that begins and returns at high speeds, and these events repeat themselves one after the other.

Therefore, they are events that have effects in many areas, but mainly they have effects on humans with great losses, but also in health.

Earthquake in Turkey an “environmental bomb”.

In support of the above, Mr. Lekas ​​noted that thousands were killed and injured in a major earthquake in Turkey a year and a half ago. The environmental footprint is enormous, as large volumes of deposits are collected in areas where they should not be, truly “environmental bombs”.

He came to an alarming conclusion: “What we’re seeing now is that with every disaster we’re dealing with new consequences that we never imagined.”

Mr. Lekas ​​said that the medical field is very important and very interesting in the growing and growing climate crisis.

Later, EKPA School of Medicine Pulmonology Professor Stelios Leukidis, Assistant Professor of Dermatology Vassiliki Nikolaou, Ophthalmologist Maria Pukianaki specializing in Ophthalmology and Dimitris Toousoulis, EKPA.

Climate Crisis and Health – Implications

They talked about the effects of climate change on the respiratory system, skin, eyes and cardiovascular system.

A common finding is that environmental change is having multiple and serious effects on the various systems of our system and its effects are already evident.

Mortality and morbidity are very high during high temperatures. Fire affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

The skin is directly affected as the “first line” of contact with the environment. “When there is a change in environmental factors, we will have effects on the skin, the first disease is skin cancer, and we have a big increase worldwide”, said Mrs. Nikolaou.

Mr Lukitis cited the example of Melbourne to show the extent of the impact of environmental changes on health. As rainfall and flooding increased in Melbourne in 2018 and 2021, there was a large increase in visits to health facilities by people infected with the virus.

The climate crisis affects us all, but the socially and economically vulnerable are the most vulnerable because they are most exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

The professor said that the effects of the climate crisis mainly affect people with chronic diseases, but also people who do not have access to health services, which is why he concluded that interventions should be not only medical but also social.