Mapping of stakeholders in Europe working on adaptation

By Annechien Dirkje Hoeben, Graz University and Francesca de’Donato, Department of Epidemiology ASL Roma 1

At the end 2021, ENBEL will finalise a report or deliverable which aims to map stakeholders in Europe that work on adaptation focused at reducing the health impacts of climate change, understanding interlinkages and identifying areas for action. To successfully fulfil the aims of this deliverable, we are using the health in all policies framework to verify to which extent health is considered within climate-relevant decisions in the non-health sectors. In addition, we are looking for targeted evidence that demonstrates which vulnerable groups or populations are most affected by climate change. In order to capture policy perspectives at different levels, interviews are carried out at local, national and supranational level.

 Specific objectives to the present research task are:

• To map stakeholders in Europe that work on adaptation focused at reducing the health impacts of climate change and understanding interlinkages and identify areas for action

• To identify key issues in the implementation of adaptation evidence needs from stakeholders related to climate, environment and health barriers and facilitators to the implementation of adaptation strategies

What are the cities doing?

It is essential to look at cities as these are often geographically more vulnerable to climate risks. Furthermore, the health impacts from climate change are unevenly divided across and within cities. Such existing health inequalities will be exacerbated by climate change, according to the IPCC. To make matters worse, cities often lack the adaptive capacity to prepare the health sector for the increasingly adverse effects of climate change. Despite large recognition of the need to interconnect health and climate change, health policy makers feel as if they are in unexplored and experimental waters and lack the understanding of how to implement adaptation measures in the health sector. At the local level interviews have already been finalised, with a total of 17 interviews carried out with local health and environmental experts involved in climate change adaptation. Interviews include two experts from the C40 city network and 15 experts from cities across Europe. Amongst the city experts, three are also involved in the WHO Healthy City Network.

Read more about the work on policy engagement in Work Package 4.