by Isabella Colonna, Deputy Digital Communications Editor with input from Maria Gogou, Environmental Influences in Neurology Task Force
The 2026 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: narrowing window for decisive health action shows that climate change is already causing substantial and unequal health impacts across Europe, while progress in mitigation and adaptation remains too slow. Compared with 1991–2000, almost all European regions monitored reported an increase in heat-related deaths during 2015–2024. Moreover, moderate or severe food insecurity due to increased heat exposure affected more than one million additional people in 2023 compared with the annual average for the period 1981–2010.
Climate change has also increased the climatic suitability for emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases, such as dengue, whose annual transmission suitability increased by 297% in Europe in 2015–2024 compared with 1981–2010. Similarly, wildfire risk and pollen seasons have increased. Importantly, these impacts are not distributed equally across the population, with the greatest burden falling on low-income populations, outdoor workers, older adults, and people living in deprived areas.
Although European countries have established national risk assessment plans and adopted climate-friendly energy transition policies, progress remains uneven across sectors and falls behind expectations in several areas. Moreover, climate initiatives are not always effectively integrated into societal structures and healthcare systems.
The report calls for an integrated climate–health strategy, including stronger heat-warning systems, greener cities, resilient health services, faster decarbonisation, cleaner heating, sustainable transport and diets, greater protection for vulnerable groups, and renewed political and public engagement.
In line with these priorities, the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) is strengthening its commitment to sustainability, promoting environmentally responsible practices and supporting the transition towards climate-resilient, low-carbon neurology. Through its Environmental Influences in Neurology Task Force (ENVOY TF), the EAN also works to advance research, education, awareness and policy action on the effects of climate change and other environmental factors on neurological disorders and brain health.
Overall, the report’s findings highlight the need for integrated climate–health approach that strengthen health-system resilience, address vulnerable populations, and reduce health inequalities across Europe.
