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development is an issue for the Government Program
(2014–2018), although it does not foresee any actions
related to adaptation in this sector.
Human health
The laws governing healthcare in the countries of the
Western Balkans create the conditions to maintain
and improve the health of their citizens. According to
these laws, healthcare measures include prevention
and protection from any harmful ecological factors.
None of these laws, however, include measures
directly related to climate change or adaptation to
climate change.
In order to increase and improve knowledge and build
capacity on adaptation-related health issues, prevent
diseases aggravated by climate change, and reduce
risks from extreme weather events, it is necessary
to develop climate change adaptation strategies for
public health. Albania and FYR Macedonia are the
only Western Balkan countries to have developed
these strategic documents (see Annex 1).
No data
No data
No data
HUMAN HEALTH
Albania
Croatia
FYR
Macedonia
Montenegro
Serbia
No data
Kosovo*
Regional
(Joint responses)
Bosnia
and Herzegovina
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Policy Evaluation Matrix
Mainstreaming
of adaptation
goals and targets
Adaptation
targets
4
3
2
1
Availability of
implementation
tools
Mountain
adaptation
considerations
Regional/transboundary
adaptation considerations
Monitoring
and Evaluation
Participation
Gender
issues
1- low or not considered at all
2- low or mentioned at least
3- somewhat integrated/present
4- high or fully integrated
Copyright© 2015GRID-Arendal • Cartografare ilpresente/NievesLópez Izquierdo
The initiative of theWHORegional Office for Europe
aimed to protect human health from the impacts
of climate change through addressing adaptation,
strengthening health systems, and building
institutional capacity in seven countries: Albania,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation,
Tajikistan, FYR Macedonia, and Uzbekistan.
The pilot initiative provided a wealth of valuable
information and policy lessons for the whole WHO
European Region (e.g. methodology and tools
developed throughout this initiative are based
on well-established frameworks and adapted to
country-specific needs and requirements). The
experiences and developed good practices are
documented and transferable to other countries.
General core activities carried out in all seven
countries were:
Protecting health from climate change: a seven-country initiative
• Development of national health adaptation
strategies or action plans
• Assessment of health vulnerability, impact and
adaptive capacity
• Capacity development and national outreach,
including education activities
• Research and innovation
• Inter-country exchange of knowledge and good
practices
The Albanian Strategy for Health System
Adaptation into the Climate Change was adopted
by the Ministry of Health in October 2011. The
Climate Change Health Adaptation Strategy and
the Heat–Health Action Plan were adopted by the
government of FYR Macedonia in February 2011.
For more information, please visit http://www.
euro.who.int