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ATACH Task Teams

ATACH Task Teams (TTs) bring together ATACH members to collaborate on specific deliverables that support countries to advance their priorities for the implementation of climate change and health interventions at the country level. Task Teams are established by the Secretariat based on country needs, in consultation with the Steering Group. Task Teams are time-bound to drive efficiency and momentum. As of 2026, Task Teams are being progressively linked to overarching Thematic Communities of Practice in ATACH.  

The general objectives of Task Teams are to:  

  • Address country needs and priorities by advancing the delivery of specific products included in the ATACH workplan; and/or  

  • Support piloting innovative approaches to identified needs or piloting new tools as developed by the Task Teams.  

Each Task Team has a lead (or co-leads), who coordinates activities, organizes meetings, and ensures the timely delivery of outputs. Interested ATACH members can join Task Teams as contributors. Task Teams are open to any ATACH Member (including countries/areas and technical partners/non-state actors) either as leads or contributors. Participation is guided by the team’s objectives.  

More information on Task Teams is available below (click on titles to quickly access contents of interest):

Task Teams for 2026-27

Based on the latest identified country needs in climate and health, the list of ATACH Task Teams has been revised for 2026-27. Four new Task Teams have been introduced, one Task Team scope evolved, and Task Teams established in 2025 were maintained to continue working until their deliverables are finalized.

All Task Teams are listed below with their proposed deliverables/activities. These deliverables will be further detailed in a formal workplan for each Task Team, to be developed by the Task Team leads. Task Teams related to the pilot ATACH/I-CAN Thematic Community of Practice on Nutrition, Climate Change and health are identified in green. Following a call for expressions of interest issued to all ATACH members in early 2025, Task Team leads have been selected based on established criteria to advance the agreed deliverables and engage interested ATACH members as contributors.

Joining a Task Team

ATACH members interested in being newly added as contributors to Task Teams may contact the ATACH Secretariat at atach@who.int. Specific contacts for Task Team leads are also specified below, where available.

Task Teams 

Description of activities/deliverables

 Led by:

Climate Change and Health Indicators 

i. Bringing together on-going initiatives/work on indicators to discuss pathways towards standardization and alignment of monitoring/reporting   

ii. Initiatives to regularly share information about work on indicators (including CRHS and LCSHS) and work towards alignment 

  • Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change

  • WHO

Alignment of national procurement standards 

 

i. Harmonizing sustainable procurement standards (for the subset of countries ready to identify overlap and align their procurement standards)  

ii. Developing sustainable procurement standards (for the subset of countries beginning their policy development journey) 

iii. Guidance on sustainable procurement standards for nutritious & sustainable food in public procurement, including health settings* 

iv. Sustainable procurement standards for UN Agencies 

Measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of national health systems 

i. Developing guidance for countries to identify and implement the most appropriate methods to assess GHG emissions in health systems 

  • National University of Singapore Centre for Sustainable Medicine (CoSM)

  • NHS England

  • WHO
Integration of nutrition in climate policies*

i. Developing guidance to enhance integration of nutrition in member states’ climate policies 
  • WHO, in collaboration with I-CAN

“Smart Buys” for climate change and health interventions 

i. Mapping available knowledge/resources on “smart buys”for climate change and health interventions (both adaptation and mitigation), and identify a priority research agenda to fill major gaps   

ii. Generating guidance / evidence on cost-effectiveness of interventions that countries can use for decision-making on climate & health investment (considering both adaptation and mitigation) 
  • The World Bank

Costing and prioritization of climate change and health interventions 

i. Developing guidance on how to cost and prioritize climate change and health interventions at country level, including by their integration into the design and delivery of wider  plans (health reform and climate action) to maximize cross-sectoral benefits.    
  • The World Bank

Mapping and description of financing opportunities 

(evolved in 2026)

i. Developing a mapping of current financing initiatives and provide information on how to access them 

ii. Role of private sector and the different types of private finance available, including blended financing options 

iii. Developing case studies showcasing country experiences and lessons learnt in accessing financing opportunities 
  • The Commonwealth Secretariat

Guidance to integrate gender and equity considerations in climate change and health policies and planning 

(new since 2026)

i. Developing guidance to integrate gender and equity considerations in CCH policies and planning, including through participation of communities and underrepresented groups. 

ii. Developing a brief on how ATACH operational and governance mechanisms ensure inclusion of gender & equity considerations 

  • United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

  • United Nations University - International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH)

Standards for climate resilient, environmentally safe and sustainable health care facilities (HCFs)

(new since 2026) 

i. Developing harmonized global standards for safe, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities as targets to achieve for healthcare facilities:

These standards will support countries in designing, operating and maintaining facilities that are safe, resilient and sustainable, advancing universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These should include a tiered structure (minimum and advanced levels) and be organized in, potentially stand-alone components covering the following areas:  Safe WASH (including waste management and environmental cleaning), reliable electricity, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, safe management of chemicals and radiation, and health worker protection. 

  • WHO

  • Ministry of Public Health and Population of Haiti

Mapping of capacity building needs of different types of actors

(new since 2026)

i. Mapping capacity building competencies and needs of key stakeholders in climate change and health structured around the key functions required to advance climate resilience and low carbon sustainability in health 

  • Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE)

  • WHO

Practical recommendations for the integration of heat into existing climate change and health risk assessment and management approaches

(new since 2026)

 i. Providing practical recommendations to countries for the integration of heat into existing climate change and health risk assessment and management approaches. This could include practical recommendations for the integration of heat into e.g.: Climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments at population or healthcare facility level, the Health component of National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs), and integrated climate and health surveillance systems.  
  • WHO

 

Criteria for the creation of Task Teams

The following criteria are proposed to ensure that ATACH task teams effectively respond to country needs in implementing climate & health work. To be established in the ATACH, task teams should:

  1. Respond to identified country needs and priorities for advancing action on climate and health at country level;   
  2. Be established to deliver a specific activity or product in the ATACH workplan within an agreed timescale, pilot innovative approaches to identified needs by countries or pilot new tools and products as developed by TTs; 
  3. Be endorsed by the Steering Group (SG) as part of the ATACH workplan. Based on the evolution of the work and evolving country needs and priorities, new TT proposals may be submitted by ATACH members for consideration by the SG; 
  4. Be led by, at least, one ATACH member with demonstrated experience, willingness and availability to coordinate the TT and deliver the agreed product. Co-leadership will also be possible where relevant.

Selection criteria for Task Team leads 

Task Team leads are selected by the Secretariat based on expressions of interest received from ATACH members (countries/areas and technical partners). Selection is guided by a set of criteria to ensure diverse representation and effective delivery of outputs. Leads (and co-leads where relevant) should have:  

  • Demonstrated experience and/or technical capacity relevant to the Task Team scope and objectives. 

  • Availability and commitment to coordinating the Task Team(s) under ATACH, supporting engagement of ATACH members and achieving agreed deliverables. 

  • Commitment to collaborating with the ATACH Secretariat, Steering Group and other ATACH members (e.g., other Task Team leads), including through coordination calls and reporting to the Secretariat (2x year) 

  • Balanced representation across geographical areas, income groups and gender. 

Roles and responsibilities in Task Teams

Interested ATACH members are invited to consider the responsibilities below to inform their expression of interest in leading and/or contributing to ATACH Task Teams. 

Task Team lead(s) are responsible for:  

  • Engaging with relevant contributors from the broader community of ATACH members to develop ATACH products and activities as the main outcome of their Task Team. 

  • Developing a Task Team workplan outlining the objectives, timeline and activities to advance delivery on the ATACH activity/product of the Task Team. 

  • Managing the organization and running of meetings (e.g., agenda development, facilitation, sharing meeting summaries and next steps, and potential technical follow-up) and other collaborative activities for the Task Team (e.g. developing document drafts and facilitating inputs, etc.) 

  • Engaging with the relevant Thematic Community of Practice leads to promote alignment, consultation and sharing with the CoP participants at different stages of product development, as relevant; 

  • Reporting to the full ATACH in relevant meetings (e.g. general meetings) and in an annual progress report by the ATACH. 

Task Team contributors’ responsibilities will be agreed in consultation with Task Team leads, and could include: 

  • Participating in Task Team meetings; 

  • Contributing to the development of Task Team deliverables, as outlined in the workplan; 

  • Participating in communication and dissemination activities related to the Task Team; 

  • Other tasks as relevant to the Task Team objectives. 

 

The ATACH Secretariat is responsible for: 

  • Providing administrative support to Task Team meetings (e.g., opening link, sending invite and arranging interpretation if required).

  • Providing inputs into the Task Team workplan developed by the lead.

  • Participating in Task Team meetings, activities, communications and product development to provide strategic direction where relevant.

  • Supporting with dissemination of Task Team updates and results as relevant to the broader ATACH community, including uploading task team minutes to the ATACH Community of Practice website and disseminating reports and milestones through the ATACH newsletter.

  • When possible and relevant, make funding available to Task Team leads or countries to advance and pilot specific ATACH deliverables.

  • Organize meetings among the different Task Team leads at minimum on an annual basis. Between meetings, support the Task Teams ensure open communication channels between Task Teams.