Climate Change and Health

The flooding of the Meuse River in the summer of 2021 vividly demonstrated how the impacts of climate change transcend borders. In the tri-border region of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, basements were inundated and hospitals had to be evacuated.

To improve future responses to extreme weather events such as floods, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves, the region developed a joint strategy on climate and health within the framework of the project Common Ground: Shaping Across Borders.

But where do citizens see the greatest need for action? Finding that out proved to be a real challenge: On the one hand, people often only notice whether regional coordination works well when extreme events occur. On the other hand, this form of citizen participation was new territory for everyone involved.

The project team from the Geneeskundige Gezondheidsdienst Zuid-Limburg and the EU Prevent Foundation explored various ways to engage with the public. Visually engaging online surveys invited people to share their views on the health impacts of climate change. In-person events provided direct opportunities for dialogue. And at regional Citizen Summits, their ideas and suggestions were given additional space. The results from all these initiatives are now being evaluated.