Seminar CEDRE-IEE
When the Forest Burns: Health Impacts and Legal Responses to Extreme Heat in Europe
This summer’s record-breaking heatwaves and forest fires have turned climate change from a future threat into an immediate public health emergency. This seminar brings science and law into dialogue to examine what extreme heat and wildfires mean for human health, and how the law responds. Jacques Teller, Professor of Urban Planning at ULiège, will first present the latest evidence on the health impacts of these events, drawing on this summer’s fires as a case study. From heat-related mortality to wildfire smoke exposure, his talk will map who is most vulnerable and why the risks are growing. Marlies Hesselman, Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Groningen, will then explain how international and EU climate law engage with human health and the right to health. She will also discuss recent climate cases before European courts on heat, health and forest fires. The session will close with an open discussion with the audience on how Europe can better protect people’s health in a warming climate.
With Camille Bertaux (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles), Jacques Teller (Uliège) and Marlies Hesselman (Université of Groningen)
Programme:
- 5:15 pm : Introduction - Camille Bertaux, (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles)
- 5:30 pm : heatwaves, wildfires and human health impacts - Jacques Telle (ULiège)
- 6:00 pm : EU and international climate law and human health - Marlies hesselman, (University of Groningen)
- 6:30 pm : Discussion
