News
New Observatory health page on impacts of ground-level ozone and ozone forecast viewer
24 Feb 2023Ground-level ozone affects human health by impairing respiratory and cardiovascular function, which leads to more hospital admissions, school and work absences, medication use, and even premature mortality. Ongoing and future changes in the climate are expected to affect the year-to-year variability in ozone concentrations and its peak values in different ways. The Observatory now includes a dedicated section describing the impact of ground-level ozone on human health, observed and projected effects of climate change, and examples of policy responses to reduce the burden for human health and its economic costs. The 4-day ground-level ozone forecast viewer from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) is also accessible from the Observatory.
Invitation to share stories for GCHA films on climate health threats
07 Feb 2023The Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA), together with BBC Studios, will produce films, that explore climate change as a health emergency. The series will raise awareness about environmental impacts on our health and highlight inspirational, innovative and inclusive solutions to the interlinked climate and health crises, that can be replicated and scaled elsewhere. Your organisation can now share stories for potential inclusion.
Wellcome Trust funding opportunity for climate-health related projects
02 Feb 2023The Wellcome Trust funding scheme "Climate Impacts Awards" is funding transdisciplinary teams to deliver short-term, high-impact projects about the impacts of climate change on physical or mental health. Projects should combine evidence generation with communications and/or public engagement to make the health impacts of climate change visible and drive climate policy.
Open horizon Europe calls for Climate-Health
11 Jan 2023The recently adopted Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024 includes calls for Research & Innovation activities, co-funded partnerships (COFUND) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs). The Health cluster is divided into six Destinations, focusing on a broad range of areas of importance for the future of health. Several clusters have open calls that are relevant for the climate-health nexus.
New indicators available in the Observatory
07 Dec 2022The European Climate and Health Observatory now offers more indicators related to health impacts of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, heat and pollen (developed by the Lancet Countdown Europe) and has updated existing indicators with recent data.
Stockholm Statement: national public health institutes' role in preparedness and response to climate crisis
05 Dec 2022National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) from around the world met in Stockholm, Sweden early December to address and find solutions to the biggest challenges to the public health security. In the Stockholm statement they highlight the urgent need to apply the lessons learned from COVID-19 to address other health threats, including explicitly climate change. NPHIs have a vital role in handling the crises that affect human health.
Map viewer on accessibility of hospitals in Europe
28 Nov 2022The European Climate and Health Observatory now offers a map viewer visualizing the accessibility of hospitals in Europe. Being able to arrive timely at a hospital is an essential aspect of access to healthcare. The viewer presents the average travel time to the nearest hospital per NUTS3 region within Europe.
New Observatory section on climate-sensitive impact of pollen on health
21 Nov 2022Pollen, released by various plant species, is one of the most common allergens in Europe and responsible for allergic diseases in people. Climate change affects people's exposure to pollen and the process of becoming allergic. The Observatory now includes a dedicated section describing the impact of pollen on human health, observed and projected effects of climate change on pollen, and examples of policy responses to reduce the burden for human health and its economic costs.
ASPHER compiles resources for public health education on climate change
18 Nov 2022The Climate-Health page of the Association of Schools for Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) compiles activities and education resources on climate change and health for public health education.
Europe's heatwaves: How to keep buildings cool sustainably?
11 Nov 2022The European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing ‘Cooling buildings sustainably in Europe’ analyses how to best alleviate heat stress in buildings and its potential impacts on vulnerable groups, health and inequalities and at same time decrease the energy use. The frequent heatwaves and increasing vulnerability of the population will lead to a substantial increase in adverse health impacts in Europe unless adaptation measures are taken.