Community of Practice 3: Climate change and health
This Community of Practice (CoP) focuses on addressing the impact of climate change on public health, and vice versa by two main focus areas: (1 making healthcare more sustainable and climate-resilient; and (2) international action on climate, water and food.
To achieve the objectives related to the above focus areas, CoP3 consists of a multisectoral group of experts who exchange knowledge and expertise, convene in CoP meetings, and establish meaningful collaborations and synergies. It mainly looks at the effects of climate change on public health in both the short term and the longer term. And it will develop funding models for making health systems more resilient to climate change. It will also conduct research into climate adaptation and the sustainability, with a view to making health systems – especially in low to middle income countries (LMIC’s)– more resilient to the effects of climate change, as well as discuss innovations in the areas of climate, water and food.
CoP3 is led by its Co-leads, a dedicated group from various organisations that have stepped forward to shape the agenda and structure the meetings, to ultimately achieve the goals. Meet them and their organisations below:
- Global surgery Amsterdam; Kejda Acar
- IFMSA; Sie Meng Lee
- KCGH; Janneke Pala
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Sharif Egal
- Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; Anna van der Togt
- Philips; Ruth van Asperen
- PSI - Population Services International; Odette Hekster
- UMC Utrecht; Joyce Browne

This group of experts will focus on the effects of climate change on public health in both the short term and the longer term. And it will develop funding models for making health systems more resilient to climate change.
It will also conduct research into climate adaptation and the sustainability, with a view to making health systems – especially in the Global South – more resilient to the effects of climate change. This expert group will also discuss innovations in the areas of climate, water and food.