Health in All Climate Policies: Integrating health systematically into German climate policy

In light of acute crises and domestic reforms, climate action has lost some of its political priority in Germany. Nevertheless, significant policy windows remain to incorporate health considerations into climate adaptation efforts.

Climate adaptation is now mandatory at the level of state and local government in Germany. However, German climate policy still lacks explicit health goals. Concrete adaptation goals are to be set in 2026. Existing initiatives covering various sectors of society (e.g., heat protection plans) address health risks only partially and inconsistently. And they are not fully capitalizing on the co-benefits that health protection measures bring to climate adaptation and climate protection. In this project, we are working to ensure that German policymakers center health in climate governance.

Project aims

The overarching goal of the project is to ensure that health is fully considered in German climate policy. We will develop specific recommendations on policy options, policy instruments, and indicators that can be implemented during the current llegislature. A central component of this work will be the development of a compelling narrative that highlights both the costs of inaction—for the healthcare sector, people’s health, and the economy as a whole—and the opportunities for embedding health protection in German climate policy.

Methodology

Fact Sheets – Brief summaries of the current state of knowledge on relevant topics, intended for the professional community.

Webinars – Virtual discussions with experts designed to facilitate knowledge transfer and to bring together the broader professional community and experts for exchange.

Policy briefs and implementation guides— based on stakeholder dialogues and expert discussions with decision-makers from the fields of health, climate protection, the environment, and other relevant sectors