G.2. Round Table: From call to action to delivery: scaling climate–health solutions across Europe
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: As climate change–related health risks in Europe accelerate and the costs of inaction increase, political and public attention is wavering. To help renew momentum and support delivery at scale, the WHO Regional Office for Europe convened the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health (PECCH) as an independent advisory group. The Commission is launching a Call to Action on Climate Change and Health at an event ahead of the World Health Assembly (on 17 May 2026) . The Commission’s recommendations draw from five public hearings and consultations with nearly 50 political leaders, scientists, practitioners, and civil society groups and are informed by the reviews of the most recent evidence of the impacts of climate change on health. In this workshop, the discussion will focus on ways to deliver climate resilience and environmental sustainability of health systems at pace and scale, through an equity lens that prioritises the most vulnerable. The speakers, together with the audience, will explore practical pathways to implement the Commission’s recommendations across diverse national and subregional contexts, benefitting from the diverse perspectives represented among EHP participants. Discussion will be structured around three guiding questions: • Role clarity & accountability: How can WHO and other regional bodies support member states to lead on and accelerate the transition of health systems towards climate resilience and environmental sustainability? • Learning across transitions: How can we leverage different starting points across member states, e.g., by paring champions with emerging adopters, harmonizing standards and tools, and scaling proven solutions? • Prevention-first: How can climate action reduce avoidable disease and shift spending toward prevention to cut inequities and system strain? The workshop will begin with a brief overview of the PECCH Call to Action, followed by short inputs on implementation barriers and enablers from different perspectives, including the WHO/Europe, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and Systems, a Member State perspective and other partners. The majority of the session will be interactive, using guided questions and facilitated audience discussion. The workshop will produce a short set of actionable “next-step” prompts for regional, national and local stakeholders so participants can adapt them to their contexts, leveraging regional convening power, standards and guidance, shared tools/data, peer learning platforms, and progress review mechanisms to accelerate climate mitigation and adaptation that protect health. Key messages • Climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable health systems should become integral to health systems strengthening, unlocking co-benefits for prevention, equity, efficiency and continuity of care. • Stronger peer learning and the exchange of existing experiences and resources—from regional to local levels—are essential to promote, accelerate and scale up workable solutions. Speakers/Panellists Dimitra Panteli European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Berlin, Germany Famke Mölenberg Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands Herwig Ostermann Austrian National Public Health Institute, Vienna, Austria Fiona Adshead Sustainble Healthcare Coalition, Newton Abbot, UK
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223675168