EHP Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action

Overview

Launched in July 2023, the EHP Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action is a country-led initiative under the European Environment and Health Process (EHP), with leadership provided by Ireland. The Partnership brings together Member States across the WHO European Region to support the development of climate-resilient, low-carbon and environmentally sustainable health systems, and to encourage healthy adaptation and mitigation action both at the national and local level by facilitating shared learning, peer exchange and mutual support.

The Partnership’s work aligns with the efforts of the global Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH). It supports the implementation of key regional and global frameworks and commitments, particularly the Declaration of the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, the World Health Assembly Resolution on Climate Change and Health and the associated Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health.

Activities

The Partnership functions as a dynamic community of practice, facilitating collaboration through:

thematic “deep dives” – expert-led virtual sessions that explore priority topics on mitigation and adaptation in the health sector with the aim of convening a broad range of stakeholders; past sessions have addressed themes focused on low-carbon, health-care transport and climate adaptation for health at sub-national levels;
peer learning and support – enabling exchange between countries at varying stages of experience in implementing climate and health initiatives;
knowledge exchange – engaging in regional and national forums on climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems; and
collaborative planning – co-developing annual work programmes and ensuring alignment with broader regional and global efforts.

Membership

Current members include Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands (Kingdom of), North Macedonia, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Partnership welcomes participation from all countries in the WHO European Region, regardless of their current level of experience in addressing climate change and health.