Under future warming conditions, high ambient temperatures will have a significant impact on population health in Europe. The aim of this paper is to quantify the possible future impact of heat on population mortality in European countries, under different climate change scenarios. We combined the heat-mortality function estimated from historical data with meteorological projections for the future time laps 2035–2064 and 2071–2099, developed under the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5. We calculated attributable deaths (AD) at the country level. Overall, the expected impacts will be much larger than the impacts we would observe if apparent temperatures would remain in the future at the observed historical levels. During the period 2071–2099, an overall excess of 46,690 and 117,333 AD per year is expected under the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios respectively, in addition to the 16,303 AD estimated under the historical scenario. Mediterranean and Eastern European countries will be the most affected by heat, but a non-negligible impact will be still registered in North-continental countries. Policies and plans for heat mitigation and adaptation are needed and urgent in European countries in order to prevent the expected increase of heat-related deaths in the coming decades.

“How far are we in implementing climate change and health action in the WHO European Region?” This was the question addressed to representatives of WHO European Member States of the working group on health in climate change (HIC). Twenty-two Member States provided answers to a comprehensive questionnaire that focused around eight thematic areas (Governance; Vulnerability, impact and adaptation (health) assessments; Adaptation strategies and action plans; Climate change mitigation; Strengthening health systems; Raising awareness and building capacity; Greening health services; and Sharing best practices). Strong areas of development are climate change vulnerability and impact assessments, as well as strengthening health systems and awareness raising. Areas where implementation would benefit from further action are the development of National Health Adaptation Plans, greening health systems, sharing best practice and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors. At the Parma Conference in 2010, the European Ministerial Commitment to Act on climate change and health and the European Regional Framework for Action to protect health from climate change were endorsed by fifty three European Member States. The results of this questionnaire are the most comprehensive assessment so far of the progress made by WHO European Member States to protecting public health from climate change since the agreements in Parma and the World Health Assembly Resolution in 2008.

The WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development (Venice Office) works in the thematic areas of health equity, social and economic determinants of health, and investment for health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the European Programme of Work. Within the WHO Venice Office, the the Regions for Health Network (RHN) works to place health and well-being high on the key political agendas, and advocates the needs of local and subnational authorities at the regional and international levels. RHN has been launched in 1993 to help regions to accelerate the delivery of improved population health, and currently has 34 members. It has developed over the decades into a forum that creates synergies between regions and stakeholders in the field of health (mutual learning); strengthens cooperation/collaboration between regional and local actors and international health institutions; increases understanding of the functioning of regional and local health systems; promotes the exchange of experience, and mutual learning. RHN positions itself at the forefront of innovative approaches and aims at becoming a cutting-edge network ready to capture and disseminate effective approaches, policies and strategies that improve population health at the regional level of governance. In past years, RHN has spearheaded collaborative efforts amongst cross-border regions, on different topics, and with technical guidance from WHO. These efforts have led to joint initiatives, publications, study trips, project collaboration and periodic and structured exchanges of experiences.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe developed the roadmap to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, building on the European policy framework Health 2020, in order to strengthen the capacities of Member States to achieve better, more equitable, sustainable health and well-being for all at all ages in the WHO European Region.

Legislation is arguably one of the most powerful tools available to Government to direct long-term policy goals, influence change and enable action for the benefit of whole populations. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 aims to strengthen governance for the long term; provide greater transparency in how decisions are made across the public service; create the potential for sharing evidence and learning from best practice; and lead to an understanding of collective responsibility and better alignment of action towards a common set of outcomes.