11.E. Round table: Climate change, justice and public health: recommendations for action
Authors:   Organised by: EuroHealthNet, European Environment Agency,   Chair persons: Caroline Costongs (EuroHealthNet)
Published: October 2021

There is an urgent need to further integrate climate, health, and equity across knowledge, practice and policy, to ensure joint solutions to interlinked problems. This workshop, developed by EuroHealthNet and the European Environment Agency (EEA), will be framed by cutting-edge research and opportunities for policy and action highlighted in the new Lancet Countdown - EEA publication on “Responding to the health risks of climate change in Europe”, as well as the recent INHERIT Horizon 2020 initiative, coordinated by EuroHealthNet. It will seek to explore the four COP26 goals (Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance and Collaboration), specifically discussing solutions to mainstream health and equity considerations within these four actions, and to tackle the already occurring and projected impacts of climate change on human health. The added value of the workshop lies in the bridging of different sectors and actors, and in the emphasis not just on the links between health and the environment, but also health and environmental inequalities. From a knowledge integration perspective, the workshop will explore the role and value of the new European Climate and Health Observatory, ensuring that EPHC participants learn about this important initiative. From a practice perspective, speakers and participants will be invited to present effective solutions to reduce the climate-related impacts on human health, discussing how joint actions can improve health equity as well as restore the environment. From a policy perspective, the workshop will prepare recommendations for actions, related to the goals and outcomes of COP26.

The workshop will be organised as a roundtable discussion with 5 panellists. Each panellist will provide short introductory remarks, after which the Chair will moderate an interactive discussion with participants. The speakers will touch on knowledge, practice and policy evidence, solutions and guidance to address health, environmental and justice issues from the different perspectives of the European Environment Agency, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands, the municipality of Lahti in Finland (European Green Capital 2021), the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and the Fridays for Future movement.

Finally, the workshop will also serve to prepare recommendations and questions for EPHC Plenary 5 on Climate change, justice and public health, as well as a joint EuroHealthNet-EEA-EUPHA statement reflecting on COP26 in light of the views and actions raised by speakers and participants from both the workshop and the Plenary.

Speakers/Panelists

Aleksandra Kazmierczak European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark Brigit Staatsen RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands Jenni Simkin City of Lahti, Lahti, Finland Amanda Janoo Wellbeing Economy Alliance, Glasgow, UK Clara Mayer Fridays for Future, Berlin, Germany

Key messages

There is an urgent need to implement integrated environment/health/equity actions to address joint challenges and effectively respond to climate change impacts on health. The workshop provides actionable solutions across knowledge, practice and policy to leverage on the opportunity to deliver interventions that maximise health, equity and environmental benefits.