2 June 2015: The World Health Organization (WHO) provided an update on the development of WHO/UNFCCC country profiles during a side event at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. ‘Country Profiles for Health and Climate Change’ focused on experiences of and lessons learned by the WHO European Country Office in developing the profiles, which aim to support the development of national adaptation plans.

The profiles summarize information on the health impacts, adaptation measures and co-benefits for health of mitigation. They focus on: key aspects of climate change that are relevant for human health; observed or projected health impacts; approaches (health measures) taken to adapt to climate change; and co-benefits for health and climate change mitigation measures. The profiles will build on existing data and make use of profiles already produced through the WHO’s regional offices.

The side event, which convened on 2 June, featured presentations on the WHO/UNFCCC country profile exercise and the experiences of 53 Member States of the WHO European Region. The UK’s country profile was presented in detail.

Participants also discussed: health information for climate change negotiators in the process towards the Paris Conference; and WHO/Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) Global Communication Campaign ‘Our Climate, Our Health.’

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres agreed on the production of country-specific profiles on climate change and health at the first global Climate and Health Conference held in August 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. [UNFCCC Press Release] [IISD RS Sources] [IISD RS Coverage of Bonn Climate Change Conference] [Global Climate Health Alliance Website]