Background
Within the Environment, Climate and Health Department, the Climate Change and Health Unit (CCH) works to provide international leadership of a comprehensive health response to climate change, which enhances population resilience to climate risks and supports health-promoting climate change mitigation policies. WHO's work on climate change is mandated and guided by a World Health Assembly Resolution (61.19) and a work plan approved by the WHO Executive Board in its 136th session, and includes strengthening partnerships, raising awareness, promoting and guiding the generation of scientific evidence, and providing policy and technical support to the implementation of the public health response to climate change.
Scientific evidence demonstrates that the earth is warming at an unprecedented rate. For example, in 2021, the global mean temperature was 1.11˚C higher than pre-industrial levels, with each of the past four decades warmer than the preceding decade. The main driver of this global change in our climate is the emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels.
WHO estimates that the combined effects of ambient and household air pollution are responsible for approximately 7 million deaths globally each year. Interventions to reduce active climate pollutants can bring accompanying reductions in air pollutants and can therefore have the potential to both save countless lives and lead to significant health-related savings.
Importantly, measures taken to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions should rely on clean, sustainable, and affordable alternatives that protect health and promote equity, particularly for vulnerable population groups. Transitioning to low-carbon societies can bring governments closer to achieving their sustainable development goals and meeting their commitments to the Paris Agreement as outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The multiple benefits of this transition include improved health outcomes, socioeconomic advancement, energy security, and environmental protection.
Read the full Terms of Reference
Purpose of Consultancy
Support is required to assist the WHO Expert Working Group on Climate Change, Air Pollution and Health (EWG Climate Change) as part of the Global Air Pollution and Health Technical Advisory Group (GAPH-TAG). Specifically, to provide technical expertise to conduct a systematic evidence review of the effectiveness of interventions to achieve climate change, air pollution, and health goals. The systematic review findings will form the basis of a technical report and guidance for policy-makers considering location-specific interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality and health outcomes.
Area of expertise
A systematic review of effective interventions for climate change, air quality, and health.
Deliverables
Delivery 1:
Review working materials and collaborate with the GAPH-TAG EWG Climate Change to develop an approach for conducting a systematic review of the current evidence for effectiveness of interventions to address climate change, air pollution, and health. The output will be a brief proposal outlining the methods for the systematic review (2-3pages). Incorporate one round of feedback and finalize approach and timelines for systematic review in accordance with recommendations from GAPH-TAG EWG Climate Change and the WHO Air Quality and Climate Change Units.
Delivery 2:
Undertake systematic review. The final output will be a technical report detailing findings and methods and in line with WHO quality and assurance guidelines for a systematic review. Technical report to be approximately 30 pages + technical appendices, incorporating two rounds of feedback from peer review with GAPH-TAG members, WHO technical units and other relevant experts.
Delivery 3:
Contribute to the development of decision-support guidance for policy-makers that incorporates the systematic review findings. Final outputs will be technical inputs to a draft guidance, including review and recommendations for the strengthening of the final decision-support guidance. Contribute to a pilot testing of the decision-support guidance with a small group of policy-makers as relevant.
Read the full Terms of Reference
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential: Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences, air quality management, climate systems, environmental epidemiology, or a related field.
Experience
Essential:
- At least 10 years of experience in research and evidence generation related to climate change, air pollution, and/or health
- Demonstrated experience conducting systematic evidence reviews
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience in working in international settings with staff from various geographical regions.
Skills/Knowledge
- Excellent writing skills and report preparation
- Strong understanding of principles/approaches of translating research for policy impact.
- Knowledge of UN agencies
Languages and level required
- Essential: Excellent written and spoken English
- Desirable: Knowledge of French or other UN languages.
The Climate Change and Health team - If interested, please send your CVs by January 30th, 2023 to climatehealth@who.int and add "Systematic review climate change and air quality" to the email's subject.