The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a new agency to make recommendations to the health sector in the European Region.
The ‘Pan-European Committee on Climate and Health’ (PECCH), as the new organization is called, will offer pragmatic and cost-effective health sector solutions to address climate change. Former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir will chair the PECCH.
The four warmest years on record
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe is the fastest-warming region globally. One-third of all heat-related deaths occur in Europe, and four of our warmest years on record have all occurred since 2020.
One-tenth of the urban population in the region is currently living in flood-prone areas, and climate change is projected to result in more frequent and intense heavy precipitation and sea-level rise, making floods nine times more likely.
Health challenge
Meanwhile, 80% of the population in the European Region is expected to live in urban areas by 2030, making our cities and towns the frontlines in the fight against climate change.
“The climate crisis is not only an environmental emergency, it is a growing public health challenge,” says Katrín Jakobsdóttir. “We must recognize that the interplay among rising temperatures, air pollution, and changing ecosystems has a significant impact on human health in Europe and the rest of the world.”
Food insecurity
According to Andrew Haines, Professor of Environmental Change at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who will advise Jakobsdóttir, the risks range from the spread of infectious diseases to food insecurity.
The PECCH will bring together 11 commissioners from across the WHO European Region. They represent a rich diversity of experience at the helm of political and scientific institutions, as well as national and international organizations. Together, they will deliver recommendations for actionable solutions at the intersection of health and climate.
