Intense heatwave poses a mounting concern for public health, according to health professionals
Pan-European Commission Urges Action on Climate and Health Crisis
Amidst rising concerns over heat-related deaths and disease outbreaks due to extreme weather, the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health (PECCH) has issued a call to action. The commission, established in June 2025, is an independent group of climate and health experts from across Europe, convened by the WHO Regional Director Dr Hans Kluge.
The commission has highlighted the strain extreme heat and mosquito-borne diseases are placing on healthcare systems in Europe. In Portugal, daily hospital admissions increased by 19% during heatwave days between 2000 and 2018. Similarly, in France, emergency department visits doubled and consultations with physicians tripled during heatwaves for heat-related conditions in 2022.
Heat causes the largest number of weather- and climate-related extreme event deaths in Europe. In the past two decades, heat-related mortality has risen by 30%, with over 100,000 deaths recorded across 35 European countries in 2022 and 2023 combined. The health effects of climate change can also be seen in the rise of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, West Nile virus, and chikungunya. In 2022 and 2023, there were 1,436 cases of West Nile virus and 304 dengue infections acquired in Europe, up from 201 in the previous two years combined.
To address these issues, the PECCH has made several key recommendations. Firstly, they urge the need for increased preparedness and climate adaptation across all 53 WHO member states in Europe and Central Asia. This includes protecting the most vulnerable groups such as older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant women, young children, outdoor workers, and those living in poor-quality housing.
Secondly, the commission emphasizes the importance of implementing measures to reduce emissions and expand green spaces. Increasing urban greenery by 30% could potentially cut heat-related deaths by up to 40%. These actions deliver dual benefits for public health and the environment.
Thirdly, the PECCH suggests strengthening health systems to build resilience against heat stress, heatstroke, and the wider health complications exacerbated by extreme heat. This includes the rising incidence of infectious diseases like dengue, which has surged significantly in Europe recently.
Fourthly, the commission calls for mobilizing political will and governance to integrate climate and health policies effectively. This includes scaling up systematic action and driving implementation of right policies into practice to build climate-resilient health systems and communities.
Lastly, the PECCH recommends addressing the mental health impacts, economic pressures, and infrastructure strains caused by extreme weather events as part of a comprehensive public health strategy linked to climate action.
The commission's call for action is addressed to the World Health Organization and EU Policy makers. The upcoming final recommendations, based on three thematic hearings and to be presented at the World Health Assembly in May 2026, aim to accelerate integrated climate and health action that protects populations and ensures health security amid an intensifying climate crisis. The commission describes the climate crisis as a health crisis, implying that climate action is health action.
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