The Launch of the 2026 Europe Cities Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change

Cities are emerging as Europe's principal arena for climate change action. Home to roughly three-quarters of the continent's population and the majority of its energy demand, urban areas are uniquely positioned to translate climate ambition into tangible progress, deploying clean energy, redesigning mobility, greening the built environment, and protecting residents from intensifying heat and air pollution. Cities are increasingly implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures that determine whether Europe's climate and health goals are met on the ground. The special Europe Cities Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change examines this pivotal role, charting how cities across the region are advancing or falling short on the European net zero targets, and what this means for the health and resilience of the populations they serve.

The Lancet Countdown Europe is an international, interdisciplinary research initiative that aims to develop open, transparent and rigorous indicators to track the impact of climate change on population health. As well as monitoring the health impacts of climate change, it follows the adaptation and mitigation actions taken, the economic and financial aspects, and public and political engagement across Europe. This special edition of the Lancet Countdown in Europe report will be published in the Lancet Public Health journal on September 10, 2026.

This report will be launched in Barcelona. Prof. Cathryn Tonne and Prof. Joacim Rocklöv, co-Directors of The Lancet Countdown in Europe, will present the main findings. International, European, and local organisations will follow. They will highlight the progress developed on the ground, and the gaps needed to accelerate climate change action in cities. 

A panel discussion with local representatives and experts will follow. The discussion will explore the key ingredients needed for successful integrated climate and health action: How does transformative change actually happen? What role do indicators play in driving equitable progress? How are cities turning climate policy into practice? And how do we bring people along to build the social support that ambitious action demands, supported throughout by strong implementation, monitoring, partnerships and societal engagement?