Bridging the gap between climate change and health

A Europe-Africa collaborative network is linking climate and health research to produce valuable knowledge outputs and to influence policy and practice in Europe, Africa, and beyond.

Health

Climate change is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century. Linking climate change and health research is crucial for the development of adaptation strategies to manage the health risks posed by a changing climate, including for building climate-resilient health systems.

Facilitating cross-disciplinary networking

The scope of the EU-funded ENBEL(opens in new window) project was to bridge the gap between climate change and health research by coordinating projects and supporting adaptation and resilience. “Our aim was to provide the necessary evidence on climate and health for EU policymakers by creating a space for interaction between climate scientists and health researchers,” outlines project coordinator Kristin Aunan. ENBEL established a collaborative platform that united climate scientists and health researchers from 12 projects(opens in new window) funded by the Belmont Forum(opens in new window) and the European Union. The Belmont Forum is a consortium of international research funding agencies which has initiated collaborative efforts to support transdisciplinary research in six continents at the nexus of climate, environment and health. The ENBEL initiative promoted interdisciplinary dialogue through conferences and workshops, focused interactions with decision-makers in Europe and Africa and strategically planned activities for raising awareness. Furthermore, central to ENBEL was the consolidation of findings from research studies to extract comprehensive insights relating to climate-health issues.

Key findings and tools on climate change and health

While ENBEL did not conduct original research, it collected findings from ongoing and past projects to provide guidance. A key overarching result was the lack of formal evaluation of adaptation actions, particularly regarding the economic assessment of costs and benefits and evidence of effectiveness for vulnerable groups. “Addressing these gaps is critical to delivering evidence-based guidance for adaptation policies and interventions,” emphasises Aunan. Additionally, ENBEL highlighted the necessity for disease surveillance and health systems in Africa to incorporate environmental data, such as climate information, to understand health risks and develop effective early warning and adaptation strategies. A significant achievement of ENBEL is the creation of the ENBEL portal(opens in new window) an extensive library comprising over 250 training materials on climate and health. This portal also features research factsheets, videos, policy briefs, and tools aimed at supporting capacity building. Notably, 23 ENBEL knowledge products have been published in the European Climate and Health Observatory and other platforms, enhancing their accessibility and impact. One exemplary output is the policy brief on wildfires and health, which was referenced in the European Environment Agency's 2024 report(opens in new window).

Collaboration between Europe and Africa

Among ENBEL's most impactful and enduring outcomes is the establishment of the Climate & Health Africa Network for Collaboration and Engagement(opens in new window) (CHANCE). This network brings together researchers, scientists, NGOs, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and develop new ideas. By fostering collaboration, CHANCE strengthens research projects and reinforces the implementation of evidence-based actions to protect public health in Africa. Importantly it creates a platform for ongoing collaboration that strengthens research and policy implementation across continents.