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Strategic Analysis
This call demands a highly interdisciplinary and comprehensive research approach to unravel the complex, multi-faceted impacts of climate change on human health, encompassing non-communicable diseases, mental health, and infectious diseases. A winning proposal will integrate advanced scientific understanding with robust data methodologies, focusing on differential impacts on vulnerable populations and translating findings into actionable, evidence-based policies for enhanced prevention, resilience, and adaptation.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and/or individual safety (e.g. injuries or fatalities), excluding mental health aspects: proposals should explore evidence on the complex interactions between climate change (e.g. changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events) and NCDs and individual safety, which often involve multiple climate exposure pathways and compound and cascading climatic events.
Mental health, considering interactions with brain health if relevant: in the broad focus area of mental health and psychosocial well-being, proposals should increase the evidence on the acute and long-term impacts of climate change and the understanding of new syndromes related to climate stress.
Infectious diseases, including vector-borne and non-vector-borne: proposals should increase the understanding of the factors driving climate-related burden from infectious diseases.
Increase the understanding of correlations, causal pathways and mechanistic effects between climate change and disease/health outcomes, developing unified and standard methodologies and metrics to assess short- and long-term positive and negative impacts of climate change with an adequate level of granularity. Consider individual and/or cascading climatic events and exposure patterns, and risks and drivers of vulnerability and inequality.
Develop longitudinal studies to better ascertain differential effects of climatic stressors on health including multiple scales of impacts, ranging from the molecular level to population health outcomes. Consider variability across populations, generations and life phases, regions and occupations, and collect real-world exposure and health data in living and occupational settings, considering the use of emerging ecosystems such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) [2] and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) [3] .
Study differential acute and long-term health impacts of climate (including a wide range of factors and cumulative effects) on vulnerable, sensitive or exposed population groups. Consider also differences in geographical vulnerabilities including, when relevant, geographical settings outside of urban areas, in overseas regions and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [4] . Understand the role of inequalities and societal vulnerability in determining climate-related health impacts and adaptive capacity.
Advance the knowledge on the climate, ecological and environmental drivers of pathogen abundance, including mechanisms and determinants of distribution, life-cycle patterns, transmission, virulence and survival. Consider climate change drivers of disease severity. Study host/pathogen and vector/host interactions clarifying the role of secondary reservoir hosts such as sylvatic, wildlife and livestock in the maintenance of pathogen life cycle. Assess the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and impact of control measures.
Explore the role of climate-driven human and wildlife mobility (e.g. bird migration patterns, human migration) in enhancing the global spread of pathogens and creating opportunities for their local establishment. Collect better field data and develop tools for disease modelling, risk and scenario projections that encourage interoperable data systems and cross border collaboration.
Increase the availability, accessibility, quality and standardisation of diagnostic testing for early diagnosis of infections and determining immune responses and vaccine efficacy. Increase the capacity for pathogen subtyping, and genomic surveillance for early warning and investigations of climate-related outbreaks. Develop rapid, portable, and affordable standardised diagnostic tools that can withstand climate extremes.
Increase the understanding of the factors that strengthen health resilience to climate change at the individual, local and societal levels. Investigate the role of individual mechanisms, community resilience and local solutions in mitigating the health impacts of climate change and related environmental degradation.
Citizens, patients, public authorities, social care services, healthcare practitioners and policymakers have a better understanding of the climatic health risks and determinants of disease and are better equipped to address health outcomes through enhanced and inclusive prevention, resilience, adaptation, preparedness and response, including better diagnosis and treatment.
Governments, public health authorities, researchers and civil society organisations are supported to tackle societal challenges linked to the health impacts of climatic factors.
Public authorities, organisations and the research community can rely on data collection and sharing according to FAIR [1] principles and leveraging of data availability and quality.
Policymakers and public authorities develop evidence-based climate change and health policies and interventions that are nature positive, inclusive and responsive to diverse population needs.
Policymakers and regulators are aware and well informed about climatic, environmental, socio-economic and occupational risk factors as well as health-promoting factors across society.
Climatic, environmental, occupational, social, economic, and health policies and practices at the EU, national and regional level are sustainable and based on solid scientific evidence.
The upstream determinants of health are known, understood and reduced.
The health threats and burden and patient safety burdens resulting from exposure to climate drivers are lessened, so that the related number of deaths and illnesses is substantially reduced.
Living and working environments in European cities and regions are healthier, more inclusive, safer, resilient and sustainable.
The healthcare sector reduces its environmental footprint and transitions towards carbon neutrality.
The adaptive capacity and resilience of populations and health systems in the EU to climate and environmental change-related to mental and physical health risks are strengthened.
Citizens’ health and wellbeing are protected and promoted, and premature deaths, diseases and inequalities related to climate related risks are prevented.
Citizens understand better complex climate, environment and health issues, and effective measures to address them and support related policies and regulations.
No EU policy alignment identified for this call.
Specific requirements
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
US entities eligible for funding
Any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding.
Exclusion of entities established in China
Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.
1. Admissibility conditions — , proposal page limit and layout Admissibility conditions are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries — Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
3. Other Eligibility Conditions — In recognition of the opening of the US National Institutes of Health’s programmes to European researchers, any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding. If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). Other eligibility conditions are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion — Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds — To ensure a balanced project portfolio covering the broad focus areas targeted in this topic[[Broad focus area i to iii, as given in the scope of this topic.]], grants will be awarded (within available budget) to proposals not only in order of ranking but at least also to those proposals that are the highest ranked within different broad focus areas targeted, provided that the proposals attain all thresholds. Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes — The thresholds for each criterion will be 4 (Excellence), 4 (Impact) and 4 (Implementation). The cumulative threshold will be 12. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual .
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement — Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants — In order to maximise synergies and increase the impact of the projects, all proposals selected for funding from this topic will form a cluster and be required to participate in common networking and joint activities (and in determining modalities for their implementation and the specific responsibilities of projects). These activities will be included in a dedicated work package, having sufficient budget allocated to it (around 2% of the total requested budget). Depending on the scope of proposals selected for funding, these activities may include: Attendance of regular joint meetings (e.g. common kick-off meeting and annual meetings). Periodic report of joint activities (delivered at each reporting period). Common dissemination and communication activities (which may include, for example: a common dissemination and communication strategy, web portal and visual identity, brochure, newsletters). Common Data Management Strategy and Common Policy Strategy (including joint policy briefs). Thematic workshops/trainings on issues of common interest. Working groups on topics of common interest (e.g. data management and exchange, communication and dissemination, science-policy link, scientific synergies). The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf ]]. Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application and evaluation forms and
Application and evaluation form templates Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) - the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) - will be used with the necessary adaptations Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreement (MGA) Lump Sum MGA Call-specific instructions Information on clinical studies (HE) Detailed budget table (HE LS) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" Additional documents HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 4. Health HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Evaluators will prioritize proposals that demonstrate a deep understanding of the intricate correlations, causal pathways, and mechanistic effects between climate change and diverse health outcomes (@SC4). Strong emphasis will be placed on the development of rigorous, longitudinal studies leveraging real-world data and emerging European data ecosystems like EHDS and EOSC (@SC5, @EO3). Crucially, proposals must explicitly address the differential acute and long-term health impacts on vulnerable populations, including geographical and socio-economic inequalities, and involve international cooperation, particularly with LMICs (@SC6, @possible_collaborations). Finally, a clear pathway to translate research findings into concrete, evidence-based policies and public health interventions that strengthen health resilience and adaptive capacity will be essential (@EO1, @EO4, @EI7).
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and/or individual safety (e.g. injuries or fatalities), excluding mental health aspects: proposals should explore evidence on the complex interactions between climate change (e.g. changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events) and NCDs and individual safety, which often involve multiple climate exposure pathways and compound and cascading climatic events. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Mental health, considering interactions with brain health if relevant: in the broad focus area of mental health and psychosocial well-being, proposals should increase the evidence on the acute and long-term impacts of climate change and the understanding of new syndromes related to climate stress. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Infectious diseases, including vector-borne and non-vector-borne: proposals should increase the understanding of the factors driving climate-related burden from infectious diseases. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Increase the understanding of correlations, causal pathways and mechanistic effects between climate change and disease/health outcomes, developing unified and standard methodologies and metrics to assess short- and long-term positive and negative impacts of climate change with an adequate level of granularity. Consider individual and/or cascading climatic events and exposure patterns, and risks and drivers of vulnerability and inequality. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Develop longitudinal studies to better ascertain differential effects of climatic stressors on health including multiple scales of impacts, ranging from the molecular level to population health outcomes. Consider variability across populations, generations and life phases, regions and occupations, and collect real-world exposure and health data in living and occupational settings, considering the use of emerging ecosystems such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) [2] and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) [3] . | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6Study differential acute and long-term health impacts of climate (including a wide range of factors and cumulative effects) on vulnerable, sensitive or exposed population groups. Consider also differences in geographical vulnerabilities including, when relevant, geographical settings outside of urban areas, in overseas regions and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [4] . Understand the role of inequalities and societal vulnerability in determining climate-related health impacts and adaptive capacity. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Advance the knowledge on the climate, ecological and environmental drivers of pathogen abundance, including mechanisms and determinants of distribution, life-cycle patterns, transmission, virulence and survival. Consider climate change drivers of disease severity. Study host/pathogen and vector/host interactions clarifying the role of secondary reservoir hosts such as sylvatic, wildlife and livestock in the maintenance of pathogen life cycle. Assess the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and impact of control measures. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC8Explore the role of climate-driven human and wildlife mobility (e.g. bird migration patterns, human migration) in enhancing the global spread of pathogens and creating opportunities for their local establishment. Collect better field data and develop tools for disease modelling, risk and scenario projections that encourage interoperable data systems and cross border collaboration. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC9Increase the availability, accessibility, quality and standardisation of diagnostic testing for early diagnosis of infections and determining immune responses and vaccine efficacy. Increase the capacity for pathogen subtyping, and genomic surveillance for early warning and investigations of climate-related outbreaks. Develop rapid, portable, and affordable standardised diagnostic tools that can withstand climate extremes. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC10Increase the understanding of the factors that strengthen health resilience to climate change at the individual, local and societal levels. Investigate the role of individual mechanisms, community resilience and local solutions in mitigating the health impacts of climate change and related environmental degradation. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Citizens, patients, public authorities, social care services, healthcare practitioners and policymakers have a better understanding of the climatic health risks and determinants of disease and are better equipped to address health outcomes through enhanced and inclusive prevention, resilience, adaptation, preparedness and response, including better diagnosis and treatment. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Governments, public health authorities, researchers and civil society organisations are supported to tackle societal challenges linked to the health impacts of climatic factors. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Public authorities, organisations and the research community can rely on data collection and sharing according to FAIR [1] principles and leveraging of data availability and quality. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO4Policymakers and public authorities develop evidence-based climate change and health policies and interventions that are nature positive, inclusive and responsive to diverse population needs. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1One Health approach applicationProposals should apply a One Health approach where relevant to prevent and reduce the impacts of climate factors on health outcomes. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2International cooperation particularly with LMICsInternational cooperation, in particular with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is strongly encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Topic project clustering and joint networking activitiesAll proposals selected for funding under this topic will form a cluster and are required to participate in common networking and joint activities, allocating around 2% of the total budget in a dedicated work package. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Collaboration with European Climate and Health ObservatoryProposals should ensure that relevant activities, outcomes, and outputs are shared with the European Climate and Health Observatory through the formed cluster, and contribute to future European Climate Risk Assessments. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Synergies with European Climate-Health ClusterWhen relevant, proposals should build on the outcomes of the projects that are part of the European Climate-Health Cluster. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Use of European research infrastructures in environment, climate and healthProposals are encouraged to consider, where relevant, the data, expertise, and services offered by European research infrastructures (ESFRI) in the environment, climate, and health domain. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ7Mandatory integration of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)Effective contribution of social sciences and humanities disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts and institutions are required to produce meaningful effects enhancing societal impact. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ8Clinical studies annex template requirementApplicants envisaging clinical studies must provide details of their clinical studies in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ9Mandatory use of Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS earth observation dataIf projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ10Leveraging EHDS and EOSC ecosystemsProposals collecting real-world exposure and health data should consider the use of emerging ecosystems such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Policymakers and regulators are aware and well informed about climatic, environmental, socio-economic and occupational risk factors as well as health-promoting factors across society. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Climatic, environmental, occupational, social, economic, and health policies and practices at the EU, national and regional level are sustainable and based on solid scientific evidence. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3The upstream determinants of health are known, understood and reduced. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4The health threats and burden and patient safety burdens resulting from exposure to climate drivers are lessened, so that the related number of deaths and illnesses is substantially reduced. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI5Living and working environments in European cities and regions are healthier, more inclusive, safer, resilient and sustainable. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI6The healthcare sector reduces its environmental footprint and transitions towards carbon neutrality. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI7The adaptive capacity and resilience of populations and health systems in the EU to climate and environmental change-related to mental and physical health risks are strengthened. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI8Citizens’ health and wellbeing are protected and promoted, and premature deaths, diseases and inequalities related to climate related risks are prevented. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI9Citizens understand better complex climate, environment and health issues, and effective measures to address them and support related policies and regulations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| No underlying policies in this call. | |||
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
US entities eligible for funding
Any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding.
Exclusion of entities established in China
Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.
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