National Climate Change and Health Impact Assessments Guidelines

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change calls on countries to assess the impacts of climate change and identify potential adaptation measures to manage the impacts. The World Health Organization, Health Canada, and various international experts are developing practical tools and methods that countries can use to conduct national health impacts assessments.

Health Canada and WHO held a first meeting of international experts in Victoria, Canada, in February, 2001, to draft an outline of a guidelines document on tools and methods for an assessment. At a second meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in March, 2002, the first draft of the guidelines was reviewed.

Girls carrying water in Ethiopia, Africa.

A second draft is being reviewed and tested for its broad applicabilities, particularly in developing countries.

For more information, visit the European Centre for Environment and Health at: www.euro.who.int/globalchange