2.E. Workshop: Cross-sectoral action on climate change and health: Insights from national public health institutes
Authors:   Organised by: International Association of Public Health Institutes Committee on Climate Change and Health,   Chair persons: Sébastien Denys (France), Amandine Ballart (USA)
Published: October 2023

Climate change poses a significant threat to health and wellbeing worldwide and requires urgent action. The World Health Organization's COP26 report, ‘The Health Argument for Climate Action’, underscores the broad range of health impacts that countries already face, such as death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, increases in food-, water- and vector-borne diseases, and mental health issues (WHO, 2021). Addressing this complex challenge, however, offers an opportunity for progress towards better planetary health. National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) play a valuable role in promoting the health and wellbeing of populations and are well-positioned to address the nexus of climate change and health, given their expertise in surveillance and monitoring, research and emergency response, and providing evidence-based recommendations to policymakers. The purpose of this workshop is to share concrete examples of ongoing efforts, challenges, and experiences by NPHIs related to climate change, health, and adaptation and mitigation measures. The objectives of the workshop are: to highlight the “health argument” for addressing climate change, as promoted by the World Health Organization; to showcase the cross-sectoral nature of NPHIs’ work; and to inspire other actors and stakeholders to consider how they could integrate and address climate change and health in their own disciplines, including also biodiversity loss, and related planetary health issues. We will cover examples spanning NPHIs’ engagement and support for cross-sectoral collaboration, forming effective networks to facilitate coordination, and ensuring health is at the centre of climate policies and actions. The workshop will feature presentations by NPHIs from France (Santé publique France), Germany (Robert Koch Institute), and the Netherlands (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) as well as a presentation by the European Climate and Health Observatory. The perspective of the European Climate and Health Observatory offers Europe-wide insights as a provider of tools and knowledge that support actions from NPHIs and other health actors. The format of the workshop will be informative and interactive, with opportunity for Q&A and a discussion with the audience. By showcasing the role of NPHIs and the European Climate and Health Observatory, the workshop aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of applying a public health lens as a key component of climate change and health strategies. In conclusion, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to highlight how national and global actors engage in cross-sectoral efforts tackling climate change and ensuing health impacts that, in turn, may motivate other health actors, including those taking part in the workshop, to take essential action to promote planetary health.

Key messages

• Cross-sectoral collaboration is essential to tackle the health impacts of climate change.

• NPHIs can offer examples to other health actors on how to integrate climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in their work and how to integrate health into climate measures in other sectors.