From heat warnings to action: preparing Europe for future extreme heat
As Europe reflects on another summer of extreme heat, updated WHO guidance highlights the importance of coordinated action to protect people from heat-related health risks. The guidance reinforces the value of WMO–WHO collaboration in connecting weather and climate information with health action, with particular relevance for countries across WMO Regional Association VI (Europe).
As Europe reflects on another summer of extreme heat, recent experience is a reminder that protecting people starts well before temperatures rise.
As part of Heat Action Day, marked annually on 11 June, WHO/Europe launched the second edition of its Heat–Health Action Plans Guidance, providing countries with an updated framework to strengthen preparedness and response to extreme heat. The guidance covers eight core elements, including heat-health warning systems, risk communication, surveillance, preparedness and coordination across sectors.
Effective heat-health action depends on close collaboration between the meteorological and health communities. Weather and climate information can help anticipate dangerous heat, trigger timely action and support communication with those most at risk.
This is at the heart of the WHO–WMO collaboration on climate and health. Through the WHO–WMO Joint Climate and Health Programme, the two organizations work to strengthen climate services for health and help countries translate weather and climate information into actionable information for protecting health.
The updated WHO guidance reinforces the importance of this connection. For meteorological services, this means ensuring that forecasts, heat warnings and other climate information effectively support health authorities and decision-makers in preparing for and responding to extreme heat.
For countries across WMO Regional Association VI (Europe), the updated guidance provides a useful reference for strengthening national Heat–Health Action Plans and further connecting meteorological and health services.
This is closely aligned with ongoing efforts across RA VI to strengthen Weather and Climate Services for Health, including through National Focal Points for Integrated Health Services. Stronger networks and coordination can help ensure that weather and climate information responds to health needs and supports timely action.
The experience of this summer also provides an opportunity to reflect on what worked, identify gaps and strengthen preparedness before the next heatwave. For hydrometeorological services, this includes looking beyond the provision of forecasts and warnings to how information can be translated into actionable health advice and reach those most at risk.
The end of a heatwave does not mean the end of the need to prepare. Lessons from recent periods of extreme heat can help countries strengthen their plans, improve coordination and ensure that the right information reaches the right people at the right time.
As WMO and WHO continue to advance collaboration on climate and health, these issues will also be central to the upcoming Global Heat Forum, bringing together partners to exchange experience and advance heat-health action and climate-informed health services.
Effective protection from extreme heat depends not only on knowing when dangerous temperatures are coming, but on turning that information into timely action to protect people.
Related resources
WHO resources
- Heat–health action plans: guidance, second edition: executive summary
- Strengthening heat–health action plans to protect public health, with WHO guidance
- Heat Action Day: New WHO guidance helps authorities better protect people from the effects of heat
- Europe lost 200 000 people to heat in 4 years yet nearly all of them were preventable
WMO resources
- Region:
- Region VI: Europe