To: 

Members of the Working Group on Health in Climate Change (HIC) and associated stakeholders 

Members of the European Environment and Health Task Force (EHTF) and associated stakeholders 

Members of the EHP Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action 

Heads of WHO Country Offices, WHO Representatives  

Dear colleagues and partners,

As Europe experiences another summer marked by periods of extreme heat, we are pleased to remind you that the WHO Regional Office for Europe has published the second edition of the Heat–Health Action Plan guidance, which was officially launched on 11 June 2026 and is now available on the WHO website.

• Heat–Health Action Plan guidance (second edition): https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289062930 

• Executive summary (English): https://www.who.int/europe/publications/m/item/heat-health-action-plans--guidance--second-edition--executive-summary  

• Executive summary (German): https://www.who.int/europe/de/publications/m/item/heat-health-action-plans--guidance--second-edition--executive-summary

The full guidance is currently available in English. French, German and Russian translations will be published in due course.

The second edition provides an updated and comprehensive framework for heat–health action planning, organized around eight core elements.

Heat–Health Action Plans (HHAPs) are structured public health plans that bring together a portfolio of preparedness, warning, response and recovery measures to reduce heat-related health risks through coordinated action across sectors and levels of governance.

The guidance supports countries and local authorities that are developing an HHAP for the first time while also helping those with existing plans to review, strengthen and update their approaches in light of new evidence, evolving risks and emerging good practices. Although developed for the WHO European Region, the guidance is intended to support heat resilience efforts globally.

The development of the guidance was generously supported by the European Commission and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany.

As heat-related risks continue to increase across the Region, effective implementation of HHAPs is becoming more important than ever. We encourage you to share the guidance widely within your professional networks and institutions, and promote its uptake in your national context. Your support will be instrumental in helping ensure that the guidance translates into practical action that protects populations from the health impacts of extreme heat.

The release of this guidance is an important step in WHO's continued commitment to supporting Member States in addressing the health impacts of extreme heat. We stand ready to support the uptake and implementation of the guidance through technical support, capacity-building and collaboration.

Over the coming months, the WHO Regional Office for Europe will develop training materials and implementation resources and make them available online. We also aim to organize regional and country-level meetings, webinars and technical workshops.

Upcoming opportunities for engagement include the Member States meeting on "Extreme heat: public health impacts and responses" on 6 July 2026 (the registration link is available here), as well as continued engagement through regional and global events, including the Global Heat Forum in October 2026.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the WHO European Centre for Environment, Climate Change and Health for further information or support. For any specific technical support and questions on heat–health, please contact Vladimir Kendrovski ([email protected]).

Kind regards,

Oliver

Oliver Schmoll | Programme Manager | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Climate Adaptation

WHO Regional Office for Europe | European Centre for Environment, Climate Change and Health | Bonn - Germany