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Rising temperatures
(continued)
Increasing frequency and
intensity of heatwaves
Climate hazard
Key vulnerabilities
Key risks
8
• Temperature requirements of ecosystems to
function as expected
• Soil moisture relevance for managing floods and
fire risks
• Rural and urban populations alike, especially
elderly, who are more likely to experience
respiratory and cardiovascular problems during
heatwaves
• Changes and disruption of balance of ecosystems
leading to loss of ecosystem services and change of
ecosystems distribution and diversity (e.g. migration to
higher altitudes)
• Progressive decline in soil moisture leading to increased
fire risk, reduced agricultural productivity, economic
losses, and reduced ecosystem functioning
• Deaths from cardiovascular diseases in vulnerable
populations (elderly); increased morbidity in the form
of lung inflammation; increased asthma attacks due to
heatwaves
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
Summary of Key hazards, vulnerabilities and risks
(continued)