Health in climate adaptation policy

The consequences of climate change have a major impact on human health. Take, for example, increasing heat, a prolonged allergy season, infectious diseases, and the physical and psychological impact of waterlogging and flooding.

Project objective

The project is aimed at embedding human health in climate adaptation policy and thus reducing the health impact of climate change.

Implementation

Best practices of community health services and municipalities across the Netherlands serve as the basis for this project. Its focus is on research into practical measures relating to such climate effects as heat, infectious diseases, and urban flooding. The knowledge and expertise amassed will be compiled into guidelines for community health services and municipalities. The guidelines will set out how policymakers can factor in human health in climate adaptation policy. The guidelines will be continuously updated on the basis of experience gained by community health services and municipalities. The guidelines will be completed by the summer of 2026.

Results

• A first version of the Climate Adaptation and Health Guidelines was published in 2023. These guidelines focus on three climate issues that are relevant to community health services: heat, UV radiation and infectious diseases. In the future, they may be expanded to cover additional issues. The guidelines delve into health risks, high-risk population groups, collaborations, policy (linkage opportunities) and measures. In the years ahead, the guidelines will be put into practice and assessed in conjunction with community health services and municipalities. The final version will be completed by 2027.