Good morning.
The impacts of climate change are a clear and present danger, and its most immediate and lethal manifestation is extreme heat. Heatwaves are no longer freak weather anomalies. They are now a recurring crisis inflicting suffering, claiming lives and fracturing our health systems and infrastructure.
Over just the past 4 years, heat has claimed more than 200 000 lives across the EU and its associated countries. The tragedy is 2-fold:
- first, most of these deaths were entirely preventable; and
- second, this is just the tip of the iceberg, with millions more people being affected physically and mentally.
Individual action, such as keeping out of the heat, keeping our homes cool and keeping our bodies hydrated, can make a big difference in protecting us, but it is not enough to fight a systemic crisis. We need a coordinated, powerful and institutional response.
Last year I convened the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health to advise us on how to redouble climate action. It brought together former heads of government, ministers and leaders from across the WHO European Region. One of the recommendations in their Call to Action, launched last month, calls on local governments to deploy heat–health actions plans, while recognizing that climate change is first and foremost a threat to human security.
Today, we transition from diagnosing the problem to delivering the solution. We are launching the second edition of the WHO Heat–Health Action Plans Guidance. While tailored for Europe, the Guidance can be adapted globally.
Put simply, heat–health action plans save lives. They enable cities and countries to anticipate, prepare for and respond to extreme heat in a coordinated way. This is why WHO recommends countries, regions and cities to use this Guidance to develop, implement and improve their plans.
From greening our cities for more shade to creating networks of cooling centres. From social services checking that older people stay hydrated to training teachers and child carers to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. From introducing breaks or flexible shifts, so workers avoid the midday sun, to ensuring we have enough staff on shift in health facilities during heatwaves. The solutions are practical, within reach and scalable.
I sincerely thank Federal Minister Schneider and his Ministry for their continued support to the WHO European Centre for Environment, Climate Change and Health in Bonn, which led the development of this new Guidance. And let me recognize the contribution of European Commissioner Hoekstra and his Directorate-General for Climate Action, which provided the specific funding for this vital work.
Our goal is clear and our ambition is bold: zero heat-related deaths.
We have the knowledge. We have the roadmap. Together, we can achieve it.
