Assessing climate change-related health hazards: An interactive tool for regional risk analysis in Germany

Kaspar-Ott I, Álvarez F, Köhn P, Gäbel P, Herrmann A, Hueber S, Klanke M, Lindenthal J, Nieder J, Shimada D, Stark S, Quitmann C, Wambach V, Hertig E (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Book Volume: 44

Article Number: 100701

DOI: 10.1016/j.cliser.2026.100701

Abstract

An interactive online health risk assessment has been created to visualize the health risks associated with climate change at the district level (NUTS3) across Germany. The tool provides a comprehensive assessment by depicting both the current risk patterns and projected conditions for the mid-21st century. It focuses on six key hazards: heat, flood, air quality, vector-borne diseases, allergens, and forest fires. The underlying methodology integrates weighted hazard and exposure variables and accounts for some cross-hazard influences. By aggregating individual hazards, the tool also enables the identification of hotspot regions in Germany particularly affected by climate-related health risks. The high-resolution risk analysis serves practitioners and decision-makers as a valuable foundation for targeted and region-specific climate adaptation measures. Practical implication: The risk analysis was developed for the AdaptNet project, which aims to adapt physicians in outpatient healthcare to the impacts of climate change. The intent of the risk analysis is to enable doctors to identify the climate change-related health risks relevant to their region and to prepare themselves, their practice and their patients in the best possible way. Both under- and over-adaptation to the consequences of climate change should be avoided. The maps can also be used for a variety of other applications, for example they can help policymakers and health authorities to identify high-risk areas and implement region-specific climate adaptation strategies. The findings support tailored approaches for urban and rural areas, ensuring effective resource allocation. The risk analysis can also be used for enhancing awareness among decision-makers, researchers, and the public for climate-related health risks. The health risk maps can be accessed online here: https://ehlabaugsburg.github.io/AdaptNet/map.html.

Authors with CRIS profile

Susann Hueber Institute of General Practice Stefanie Stark Institute of General Practice

Involved external institutions

Universität Augsburg DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Qualität und Effizienz eG (Gesundheitsnetz) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Kaspar-Ott, I., Álvarez, F., Köhn, P., Gäbel, P., Herrmann, A., Hueber, S.,... Hertig, E. (2026). Assessing climate change-related health hazards: An interactive tool for regional risk analysis in Germany. , 44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2026.100701

MLA:

Kaspar-Ott, Irena, et al. "Assessing climate change-related health hazards: An interactive tool for regional risk analysis in Germany." 44 (2026).

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