Lauterbach: New WHO expert for climate and health!

Lauterbach: New WHO expert for climate and health!

Reykjavík, Island - On June 6, 2025, Karl Lauterbach, former Federal Minister of Health, will work as a free expert at the World Health Organization (WHO). Lauterbach will work in a newly founded Commission for Climate and Health, the official foundation of which will take place next Wednesday in Reykjavík, Iceland. The main task of the Commission will be to develop a report on the effects of the climate crisis on health. These findings should play a central role in the next World Climate Conference. Lauterbach plans to devote himself to the work during his session -free time in the Bundestag, where he is the chairman of the Research Committee and hopes that the topics will receive the desired support.

Lauterbach emphasizes the importance of discussions with scientists and studying relevant studies as part of this commission. In times when the public interest in climate change worldwide, also in Germany, decreases, he sees the urgency, health damage and consequences of climate change clearly. This could help to bring attention to this urgent topic.

The challenges of climate change for health

The WHO describes climate change as "the greatest health threat to humanity" (WHO, 2021). In this context, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recognizes climate change as one of the greatest global challenges in the field of public health. The health effects include extreme weather events, an increased risk of exposure to certain pathogenic and indirect effects on mental health. In addition to the immediate effects, climate change also has consequences for social determinants of health, such as access to medical care.

The health challenges that arise from heat are particularly worrying. According to the RKI, older people, people with previous illnesses, pregnant women, marginalized groups and people with low socio -economic status are in particular in focus. Heat can cause health problems in the cardiovascular system and lead to morbidity and mortality. The RKI is currently conducting projects to determine the heating threatening in Germany and is developing methodical approaches to estimate these deaths.

In order to bundle the scientific work, the RKI has launched a cross -departmental working group for climate change and health. This group coordinates the activities and the strategic procedure in this important topic. Lauterbach's commitment to the WHO Commission is therefore also part of a greater approach to combating health risks, which are caused by climate change.

Overall, Lauterbach's new role not only shows the need to shed light on the interfaces between health and climate, but also the challenges that arise from a changing environment for human health. The work of the Commission could make essential contributions to future health and climate policy.