Katrín Jakobsdóttir To Chair Forthcoming WHO Committee

Former prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir has agreed to chair a forthcoming World Health Organisation committee on climate change and health.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge announced this decision earlier in November, RÚV reports. In his announcement, he emphasised the dangers of climate change on public health. He argued that new methods are needed to respond to those threats. A part of this response includes setting up a pan-European committee on climate change and health to galvanise health sector initiative.

If WHO’s Executive Board agrees to establish the committee during their January assembly, it will be founded in Reykjavík next February.

The Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign and Health Ministries did not have a hand in WHO’s selection, RÚV reported on November 6.

In a formal reply to the state media, the ministries confirmed that no agreements have been made concerning WHO’s committee and that they will neither provide funding for its establishment nor Katrín’s chairing.