The Compendium is a comprehensive collection of available WHO and other United Nations (UN) guidance for improving health by creating healthier environments. It provides an overview and easy access of 500 actions, and a framework for thinking about health and environment interventions. It covers a broad range of areas such as air pollution, water, sanitation and hygiene, climate change, chemicals, radiation, or food systems.

Guidance is classified according to principal sectors involved, level of implementation (national, community, health care), and the type of instrument (taxes, infrastructure etc.).

The Compendium compiles existing guidance from over 400 documents in a simple and systematized format. To ensure the most up-to-date information is provided to the end users, the Compendium will be updated yearly, or as soon as a major WHO or other UN guidance on health and environment is being released.

The target audience includes any decision-makers with relevance to health and environment, and those assisting them (such as mayors, staff in ministries, UN country staff etc.).

The Compendium has been prepared by WHO in cooperation with UN Environment, UNDP and UNICEF.