The WHO/WMO Joint Office for Climate and Health promotes the coordinated development and use of climate services to improve public health. It was established in 2014 under the auspices of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). The Joint Office between the two specialized UN agencies aims to increase awareness, build capacity, and connect meteorological services with experts in the health sector in an active partnership for climate adaptation and risk management.
The Joint Office was established in response to increasing demand from the health community for improved access to climate and weather products like regional climate predictions, hazard warnings and seasonal outlooks needed to understand and manage health risks related to weather and climate and to cope with a shifting burden of disease due to climate change. The office ensures there is in-house health expertise at WMO and a focal point for liaising with WHO and other health partners.
The Joint Office, together with the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), spearheads the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN), an independent, voluntary, and member-driven forum of scientists, practitioners, and policy makers focused on improving capacity to protect populations from the avoidable health risks of extreme heat in a changing climate. Its members represent diverse technical domains and all populated continents.
In 2020, WMO and WHO are establishing an online Health and Climate Science Portal, which promotes actionable science for the management of environmental risks to health. The portal supports the acceleration of multidisciplinary research, national capacity development, the development and application of tools and services, and promotes evidence and resources for advocacy in support of action and investment.
Learn More
- More information on the WHO/WMO Joint Office
- Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN)
- WMO's work on Climate Change and Public Health
- Joint Publication: Atlas of health and climate