Description
The project with acronym "TRIGGER" (SoluTions foR mItiGatinG climate-induced hEalth thReats), was launched in September 2022 with the aim of addressing the adverse effects caused by climate change on human health. The total funding is EUR 10 million, and the duration of the project is 54 months. The project is part of the European program HORIZON EUROPE and aims to deepen our scientific understanding of the relationship between climate, health, and ecosystems. The aim of the new knowledge that will be created is to be promoted in all decision-making centers at the European and national level, while informing citizens about the adoption of health protection practices at an individual level. The project consists of an interdisciplinary consortium of 22 partners from 15 countries, with 13 of them being EU member states, including Cyprus.
Despite ambitious efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, both at the global and European levels (e.g., the European Green Deal), climate change is ongoing and intensifying, warns the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that already 150,000 deaths per year are due to the effects of climate change, while the direct economic cost to human health by 2030 will be between 1.7 and 4 billion euros per year.
Actions and Results
The implementation of the TRIGGER project is designed around the creation of five newly established Climate-Health Connection Laboratories (CHC labs) in areas with different climatic characteristics, involving actors and entities in a co-creation process, covering the local to regional scale such as Municipalities, Ministries, and the European Commission. With a multidimensional approach, the project examines areas that will face particularly adverse impacts of climate change (such as increased heat waves, air pollution, intense floods, etc.),as well as key health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases, as consequences of the most intense climate change phenomena.
The Laboratory – Isle of Excellence of Environmental Fluid Mechanics has the key role of coordinating and guiding the five international CHC labs for the collection of detailed atmospheric measurements, and the identification of climate indicators as well as air pollution levels related to health impacts, using climate models. In addition, the Isle of Excellence oversees the design, development, and quality assurance of in situ measurements and provides the necessary research knowledge to CHC lab partners on atmospheric dynamics data.
So far, through systematic literature review, the project has documented the relationship between climate change and human health and well-being, as well as its socio-economic characteristics in Europe. The project's clinical studies are currently underway to deepen our scientific understanding of the relationship between climate, health, and ecosystems.
Short CVs
Dr. Marina Neophytou, Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Cyprus, leads the research team participating in the project. Together with her research group in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, she examines the impacts of climate change on health and well-being, as well as emerging energy demands. She closely collaborates with local authorities and community groups to transfer cutting-edge scientific knowledge for the immediate benefit of citizens' quality of life.
Dr. Petros Mouzourides holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Cyprus. Since 2010, he has been a member of the research team of the Laboratory – Isle of Excellence of Environmental Fluid Mechanics of the University of Cyprus, focusing his research work on microclimate and air quality in the urban environment. He participates in the TRIGGER project as a researcher and also performs project manager duties on behalf of the University of Cyprus.
Funding Programme: Horizon Europe
Research Project Budget: €9.996.777,00
