Climate change and human health in the urban environment of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East: A workshop report.

The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) is a region comprised of 18 countries that are home to approximately 460 million people. This region spans across three continents and has been identified as a hotspot for climate change. As part of ongoing efforts to understand the potential impacts of climate change on public health in this part of the world, the scientific workshop "Climate and Health in the Urban Environment" was held on September 24-25, 2024, in the cities of Nicosia and Larnaca (Cyprus). The workshop brought together regional experts from diverse fields and aimed to assess emerging health risks, identify research gaps, and propose policy interventions with a focus on urban environments in the EMME region. Specific thematic sessions covered the topics of extreme temperatures, vector-borne diseases, and air quality. Here, we present a synthesis of the talks, discussions, and outcomes from the workshop, highlighting the latest findings on climate-related health risks in the EMME. Furthermore, we propose a series of recommendations for informing research and policy decisions in the region.