A brief review of health-related issues occurring in urban areas related to global warming of 1.5°C

Recent publications are reviewed in the context of urban health issues possibly resulting from global climate change. The most important phenomena having an impact on health discussed in the paper include increased ultraviolet radiation due to stratospheric ozone, temperature-related effects, precipitation-related effects (both excessive precipitation and drought), vector-borne diseases, and finally air quality, smog-related effects. Among the above, those most directly linked to climate change may be associated with temperature-related and precipitation-related effects. The paper points out that even with 1.5°C warming major health impacts can be expected. Among the most important are respiratory problems (such as asthma) and increase in vector-borne diseases especially through ticks. In addition, urban expansion due to population increase projects urban heat island intensity increase superimposed on global warming.