Introduction

Abstract

Currently, global society is aware that ‘climate change’ is having a negative environmental impact on such aspects of the environment as global warming and the tides of sea water. Climate change impacts ‘forests’ through the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events (storms, floods, droughts) and it may lead to an increase in forest fires and outbreaks of pests and diseases. In Japan, for example, 170 died and 54,216 suffered sickness in hospital during the summer months (July–August 2010) (Gatra 14–20 October 2010). In 2003, Europe suffered one of its hottest summers ever. Across the continent, temperatures soared; in France, the thermometer hovered around 40 ℃ for a fortnight. More than 52,000 Europeans died from heat related conditions in the summer of 2003.