title: Protecting health from climate change in the WHO European Region.
abstract: "How far are we in implementing climate change and health action in the WHO European Region?" This was the question addressed to representatives of WHO European Member States of the working group on health in climate change (HIC). Twenty-two Member States provided answers to a comprehensive questionnaire that focused around eight thematic areas (Governance; Vulnerability, impact and adaptation (health) assessments; Adaptation strategies and action plans; Climate change mitigation; Strengthening health systems; Raising awareness and building capacity; Greening health services; and Sharing best practices). Strong areas of development are climate change vulnerability and impact assessments, as well as strengthening health systems and awareness raising. Areas where implementation would benefit from further action are the development of National Health Adaptation Plans, greening health systems, sharing best practice and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors. At the Parma Conference in 2010, the European Ministerial Commitment to Act on climate change and health and the European Regional Framework for Action to protect health from climate change were endorsed by fifty three European Member States. The results of this questionnaire are the most comprehensive assessment so far of the progress made by WHO European Member States to protecting public health from climate change since the agreements in Parma and the World Health Assembly Resolution in 2008.
authors.affiliation: WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, Bonn 53113, Germany. wolft@ecehbonn.euro.who.int.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, Bonn 53113, Germany. sanchezmartinezg@ecehbonn.euro.who.int.
authors.forename: Gerardo Sanchez
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea. hkcheong@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Hae-Kwan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, Bonn 53113, Germany. Eloise.Williams@wh.org.au.
authors.forename: Eloise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, Bonn 53113, Germany. menneb@who.int.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Menne
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization