Raising awareness and thereby understanding of the effects of climate change on health will facilitate both behavioural change and societal support for the actions needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can also help in getting health-care professionals to support strategies for mitigation and adaptation that will both improve health and reduce vulnerability.

WHO/Europe is implementing a broad range of activities on climate change and health. They include advocacy campaigns and multimedia products addressing both policy-makers and the general public; a comprehensive set of policy briefs, guidance, tools and training manuals; and engagement in climate fora to raise the prominence of health issues on the climate agenda.

Climate change and COVID-19: two converging health crises with a joint way forward

The response to COVID-19 offers an opportunity to rethink how we can work together to address the two global crises – climate change and the pandemic – simultaneously and more efficiently. The WHO Manifesto for a Healthy Recovery from COVID-19 offers 6 prescriptions, which support a long-term vision for enhanced public services, strengthened climate-resilience and response capacities of health systems, and green and sustainable recovery.

Achieving health benefits from carbon reductions

Transition to a zero-carbon economy could bring a range of near- and long-term gains, including health benefits, which provide an additional impetus for action on climate change. Multiple benefits of mitigation action have been demonstrated for the WHO European Region using the Carbon Reduction Benefits on Health (CaRBonH) calculation tool. If all Member States in the Region implemented their proposed actions and measures to achieve commitments made under the Paris Agreement, as reported in their Nationally Determined Contributions, the health co-benefits would include the avoidance of 138 000 premature deaths annually, potentially resulting in savings of US$ 244–564 billion per year.

Preventing adverse health effects due to heat

WHO/Europe provides a broad range of resources to support preparedness for and response to heat-waves. WHO/Europe’s annual #KeepCool campaign includes short informational videos for use on social media and information factsheets translated into many of the languages of the Region. They aim to increase heat–health advocacy and strengthen capacity to act effectively before, during and after hot weather to protect the public and reduce the burden on health systems.

European Climate and Health Observatory (Climate-ADAPT)

WHO/Europe collaborates as a partner with the European Commission, the European Environment Agency and several other organizations to maintain the health strand of the European Climate and Health Observatory. The Observatory aims to support countries in preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change on human health by providing easy access to relevant information, including on European and national policy contexts, the impacts of climate change on health in Europe, indicators on climate and health, information systems and tools on climate and health, early warning systems on climate, and health publications.