Left unabated, climate change will have catastrophic effects on the health of present and future generations. Such effects are already seen in Europe, through more frequent and severe extreme weather events, alterations to water and food systems, and changes in the environmental suitability for infectious diseases. As one of the largest current and historical contributors to greenhouse gases and the largest provider of financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation, Europe's response is crucial, for both human health and the planet. To ensure that health and wellbeing are protected in this response it is essential to build the capacity to understand, monitor, and quantify health impacts of climate change and the health co-benefits of accelerated action. Responding to this need, the Lancet Countdown in Europe is established as a transdisciplinary research collaboration for monitoring progress on health and climate change in Europe. With the wealth of data and academic expertise available in Europe, the collaboration will develop region-specific indicators to address the main challenges and opportunities of Europe's response to climate change for health. The indicators produced by the collaboration will provide information to health and climate policy decision making, and will also contribute to the European Observatory on Climate and Health.

如果任其发展，气候变化将对今世后代的健康产生灾难性影响。通过更频繁和更严重的极端天气事件、水和食物系统的改变以及传染病环境适应性的变化，欧洲已经看到了这种影响。作为目前和历史上最大的温室气体贡献者之一，以及为减缓和适应气候变化提供资金的最大提供者，欧洲的应对措施对人类健康和地球都至关重要。为确保在这一应对措施中保护健康和福祉，必须建立理解、监测和量化气候变化对健康的影响以及加速行动的健康协同效益的能力。为响应这一需求，《柳叶刀》Countdown in Europe 是一项跨学科研究合作，旨在监测欧洲在健康和气候变化方面的进展。凭借欧洲丰富的数据和学术专业知识，合作将制定针对特定区域的指标，以应对欧洲应对气候变化促进健康的主要挑战和机遇。合作产生的指标将为健康和气候政策决策提供信息，还将为欧洲气候与健康观察站做出贡献。