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Résumé :
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During 2008–2012, the WHO Regional Office for Europe coordinated the largest pilot project to date to strengthen health systems to cope with climate change. Of the wide range of activities in this seven-country initiative, this article reports on two: (i) the results of the national or subnational health vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessments of climate change and (ii) development of national or subnational health adaptation plans. For the assessments, a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods were used including: literature reviews; focus group interviews; time-series and regression analyses; riskmapping exercises; damage and adaptation cost estimations; and scenario-based assessments. The process of developing each adaptation plan was done through the activities of a national multisectoral government committee, stakeholder engagement and dialogue, capacity development, policy impact assessment and monitoring. Correlations between weather factors and human health were detected in all countries. The evidence for near-term adverse health effects was strongest for extreme weather events and changes in infectiousdisease patterns. Based on these findings, and guided by the European regional framework for action, a range of adaptation measures to strengthen health systems were analysed. The assessments showed that a number of current measures, policies and strategies needed to be revised or strengthened to respond to current and projected levels of risks from climate change. The analyses also identified measures that needed to be newly developed, such as weather early warning and integrated information systems, or where cooperation with other sectors needed strengthening. The methods, tools and experiences developed during this seven-country initiative can be shared across countries in Europe and beyond
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