Following five years of research, the EU-funded research project FREIA has published recommendations for health promotion strategies and EU-wide policy action to reduce exposure.
The Lancet Europe Countdown report on health and climate change 2024 published today indicates European governments have not successfully protected their citizens from the health impacts of climate change. A new policy briefing supported by the evidence of the report suggests clear political priorities to protect everyone, and especially those most at risk.
The 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Europe briefing, co-authored by the Health and Environment Alliance, Lancet Countdown in Europe, the Standing Committee of European Doctors, and the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region highlights key findings from the report and suggest the following actions:
Finding: increasing heat-related premature deaths, cardiovascular and respiratory disease
Action: increased adaptation strategies and enhanced urban planning, green infrastructure, and early warning systems to reduce heat stress on human health.
Finding: some parts of Europe impacted more than others, and vulnerable populations disproportionally affected by climate change impacts
Action: equity-focused climate policies that protect the health of those most at risk, and address the inequalities between impacts among European regions, subregions and populations.
Finding: under current policies Europe would reach net zero emissions only in 2100
Action: health should be a driver in climate adaptation and mitigation, with urgent fossil fuel phase-out
HEAL Deputy Director Anne Stauffer underlines the need for strong policies: “The health cost of the EU’s climate inaction is already too high, and as the Lancet Countdown shows, health risks are set to increase. In the next EU policy cycle, we need to see decisive efforts from Europe’s leaders on preventing ill-health and suffering, with climate mitigation and adaptation measures that recognize the urgency to act and focus on reducing health inequalities. Health protection, climate action and pollution prevention need to be front and center of the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-29.”
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