The report “The 2026 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change” has recently been published in The Lancet Public Health, one of the leading international journals in public health. This report is part of the broader Lancet Countdown initiative, a major scientific collaboration that brings together experts from academic institutions and international organizations to monitor the links between health and climate change.
The report includes contributions from Carla Maia, member of VBD-GHTM Research Group and Coordinator of the CLIMOS project, who is the only Portuguese scientist among the 65 experts from 46 institutions involved in this comprehensive assessment. Her contribution focused on the development of Indicator 1.3.5, which assesses the outbreak risk of leishmaniasis.
Key findings from the report
The report presents a concerning picture, showing that the health impacts of climate change are already being felt across Europe and are expected to intensify:
- Rising heat-related mortality: All European regions have experienced an increase in deaths associated with extreme heat over recent decades.
- Expansion of infectious diseases: Climate change is facilitating the spread of disease vectors, increasing the risk of outbreaks of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and leishmaniasis. In particular, findings from Indicator 1.3.5 show that the spread of leishmaniasis is closely linked to changing climatic conditions that are making new areas suitable for sandflies. As temperatures rise, diseases previously restricted to the Mediterranean are beginning to expand further North and East.
- Worsening environmental and social conditions: There is growing pressure on food security, more frequent extreme weather events, and deteriorating air quality.
- Unequal impacts across populations: Vulnerable groups—including older adults, children, low-income populations, and outdoor workers—are disproportionately affected.
The report also highlights that policy and public engagement are not keeping pace with the rapidly increasing risks, raising concerns about Europe’s preparedness to respond effectively.
An urgent call for action
A central message of the report is that the window of opportunity to protect public health is rapidly closing. It calls for stronger, health-centered climate policies and coordinated action across sectors. At the same time, it emphasizes that climate mitigation strategies—such as reducing emissions and improving air quality—can deliver immediate and substantial health benefits.
GHTM | IHMT NOVA’s contribution
Carla Maia’s involvement in this international report reinforces GHTM | IHMT NOVA’s position as a key player in global health research, particularly in the fields of vector-borne diseases and the intersection between climate, environment, and health.
Her contribution to the analysis of the outbreak risk of leishmaniasis further highlights the importance of monitoring climate-sensitive infectious diseases and strengthens GHTM’s role in addressing emerging health threats driven by environmental change.
This contribution also underscores the growing relevance of Portuguese research in addressing global challenges such as climate change and its impact on human health.
🔗 Read the full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468266726000253?via%3Dihub
The report is complemented by country-specific data available on the Lancet Countdown website, including national-level insights for Portugal, which provide additional context on how climate change is impacting health at a local scale.
