Policy brief: The importance of protecting human health in the EU climate policies

As anthropogenic climate change continues to escalate, its detrimental effects on human health are becoming pronounced, demanding urgent transformative actions from European policymakers. This policy brief underscores the importance of protecting human health in the EU climate change policies. The European Climate-Health Cluster, comprising six pioneering research projects, calls for increased engagement of legislators and policymakers to co-create evidence-based policies that eectively safeguard public health in the face of climate challenges.

Recommendations for action include:

Incorporate the safeguarding of human health into all pertinent climate policies, with special attention for the most vulnerable

Address the equity gap to reduce social disparities in health outcomes and adopt a systemic and multisectoral approach

Urgently strengthen climate change mitigation strategies

Put health adaptation at the centre of climate change policies, including tools such as early warning systems or disease surveillance systems for climate-sensitive conditions

Transform healthcare systems to substantially reduce their environmental footprint and enhance their preparedness, response and resilience capacities for climate-related risks and emergencies

Foster collaboration among scientists, policymakers, legislators, and all stakeholders to exchange knowledge

Increase support for research on the nexus between climate change and human health