Other organisations recorded by Europe PMCIND Georgiana Gordon-Strachan 9723 · Macquarie University · Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia · University of Hong KongThese are researcher affiliations; the award is counted once under the primary recipient above.
Funding£21.0M
PeriodApr 2024 — Jan 2029
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Every year, a global collaboration of over 200 researchers tracks how climate change is harming human health—and how well the world is responding. This matters because climate change is not just an environmental problem; it is a direct threat to health, from heatstroke and infectious diseases to disrupted food systems. Before the Lancet Countdown began in 2016, there was no systematic, annual, policy-focused monitoring of these links. Governments and international bodies lacked a clear, evidence-based scorecard to guide health-protecting climate action. If this next phase succeeds, the Countdown will produce more policy-relevant indicators, help low- and middle-income countries build their own monitoring capacity, and strengthen the narrative around climate and health through strategic outreach. The result could be faster, more targeted government action—such as heatwave warning systems, cleaner energy policies, or improved disease surveillance—that directly reduces illness and death. The project is fundamentally applied: its entire purpose is to translate rigorous science into real-world influence on policy processes, not to explore fundamental questions for their own sake.
View original technical description
Since its inception in 2016, the Lancet Countdown has grown from one small team producing an annual report, to a collaboration with over 200 cross- disciplinary researchers and six regional centres, publishing one global and multiple regional reports annually. Built on rigorous science, it has received widespread international recognition and relevance, gaining unique access and influence over policy processes. In its next phase, increased funding will ensure the Lancet Countdown can: 1. Harness the rapidly evolving science to produce increasingly policy-relevant indicators on climate change and health; 2. Transfer knowledge and increase capacity for standardised and rigorous monitoring of climate change and health at the national level, particularly in LMIC, by delivering indicator blueprints and tools for indicator development; 3. Deliver a strategic programme of engagement and outreach, building on strategic partnerships with policy-influencing organisations to maximise the influence of its global and regional work in promoting health-protecting climate action; 4. Share its annual findings publicly, and work with partner organisations to build a consistent and evidence-based narrative around climate change and health This ambition will be supported by an updated governance structure, designed to promote cross-centre collaboration, and driven by the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
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