The climate crisis is arguably the greatest threat to human health and well-being. For this year's Robert Koch Colloquium, the RKI put the spotlight on ‘Climate change and public health’ to share the knowledge of renowned experts in this field. The RKI can be a key actor in the field of climate change and public health through its evidence-based scientific recommendations on topics such as heat mortality, nutrition and physical activity and health behaviour but also through its surveillance and monitoring activities.