The 2026 Europe Cities Report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: cities at the forefront of climate change action

Cities are hubs for innovation, economic activity, and socioeconomic development, concentrating not only population, assets, and infrastructure, but also health risks of climate hazards. Cities have a central role in addressing climate change by implementing adaptation and mitigation solutions that deliver resilient and low-carbon communities, boost local economies, and improve citizens’ health.

 

In this Lancet Countdown Report, we present for the first time a systematic, policy-relevant set of climate change and health indicators for European cities. Developed by 58 researchers from 31 academic institutions, a set of 28 indicators track trends in climate change and health across five domains.