Policy on climate change and health

This policy on climate change and health highlights that climate change demands a response from every individual and society. The consequences of climate change already include extreme weather events such as heat, drought, fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar and mountain ice, as well as changing geographical distribution of communicable diseases.

Some recommendations of this policy include:

• Strengthen the climate resilience of health systems. This includes putting in place public health plans to help all citizens cope with the consequences of climate change.
• Mental health support should be included, and health inequalities taken into consideration in the response strategies to the climate crisis.
• Develop effective climate epidemiology methods to collect and analyse data on climate-related illness and death.