WHO launches new commission to address climate-related health risks in Europe
WHO launches new commission to address climate-related health risks in Europe
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health (PECCH) to address the growing health impacts of climate change in Europe, the fastest-warming WHO region.
Chaired by former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the commission includes 11 experts tasked with developing actionable recommendations to protect public health, reduce emissions, and strengthen climate resilience.
According to WHO/Europe, climate-related health indicators have worsened in recent years, with Europe accounting for a third of the world’s heat-related deaths. Over 100,000 people died from extreme heat across 35 European countries in 2022 and 2023.
Jakobsdóttir stressed that the climate crisis is a major public health challenge, impacting air quality, ecosystems, and vulnerable populations. The commission will also focus on reducing inequality and preparing health systems for future climate threats, including infectious diseases, food insecurity, and heat-related illnesses.
