ENBEL new member of WHO-Civil Society Working Group on Climate and Health
The ENBEL project is accepted as a member of the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to advance action on Climate and Health for the next two years.
“We are honored to join this key group working to advance the climate and health agenda. The ENBEL network of climate and health research projects will in particular contribute with scientific-based knowledge on the health impacts of climate change as well as research needs and knowledge gaps in the field”, said ENBEL project coordinator Kristin Aunan who will be the designated representative for the Working Group from ENBEL.
ENBEL brings together representatives from 12 international health and climate research projects funded by the Belmont Forum and the EU and additional leading climate and health researchers and experts.
Aunan is Research director at CICERO Center for International Climate Research and is also project coordinator of other climate and health research projects including EXHAUSTION and HEATCOST.
The Working Group was established in 2019 by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to strengthen WHO collaboration with civil society health organizations and advance significant, urgent action on climate change and health. The Working Group is co-chaired by the WHO Assistant Director-General for Healthier Populations, and the Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance.
Intersectoral collaboration needed
“Facing the increasing climate and health risks, more intersectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange between the climate change and health research communities, civil society, policy and practice is needed for integrated and evidence-based action for mitigation of and adaptation to the health impacts of climate change”, said Aunan.
The Working Group aims to foster a strong and sustained health voice, informing decision-making on climate change nationally and internationally, and driving urgent action on climate change.
“The ENBEL project is currently mapping stakeholder needs through interviews with e.g., decision-makers and stakeholders in Europe and Africa. ENBEL will also bring the opportunity to gather input from researchers, policy makers and NGOs in Sub Saharan Africa through our fast-growing CHANCE-network (Climate-Health Africa Network for Collaboration”, said Aunan.
ENBEL is short for “Enhancing Belmont Research Action to support EU policy making on climate change and health” and is aimed at connecting health and climate change research. ENBEL is synthesizing scientific evidence on climate change and health links, identifying knowledge gaps and translating evidence into outputs relevant for EU, national and regional policy with the aim of shaping low-carbon economies and build climate resilience. ENBEL is funded by the EU’s Horizon2020 programme.