The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health is an independent advisory group convened by WHO/Europe to raise the political profile, awareness and support for stronger action to address the health impacts of climate change.

The Commission will consist of 11 commissioners, including former political leaders and leaders championing the climate change and health agenda, selected to represent a broad spectrum of views, experiences and disciplines from different parts of the WHO European Region. To ensure the independence of the Commission, commissioners will not hold a position in political office during their appointment to the Commission.

The Commission aims to address the health impacts of climate change by:

• determining interconnected health risks, the consequences of inaction and opportunities for health improvement through climate adaptation and mitigation;
• identifying gaps in government actions, policies and governance systems that hinder effective climate change action;
• recommending strategies for accelerated health and climate action, both long- and short-term;
• raising the profile of health in climate policy and advocating for the final policy recommendations of its work to high-level decision-makers; and
• advising WHO/Europe on how best to strengthen its support to Member States on health and climate change.

 The Commission will be led by H.E. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, and supported by Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Andrew Haines, Professor of Environmental Change and Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.