Sustainable Development

Reports’ findings - an inefficient use of water resources in Europe

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), millions of people in Europe lack access to drinking water. In addition, and according to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), more than 50 percent of the rural population in 10 European countries have no access to clean water. Such a patchy access to running, safe water has a devastating impact on people’s health status, creating an unfair level of avoidable health inequalities. Clean water is a crucial natural resource, (...)

European Court of Auditors condemns the legislative proposals for the CAP reform unsatisfactory

The European Court of Auditors, in its latest opinion on the Commissions’ four legislative proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), although recognising the efforts made to better this key policy, condemns the recommendations as unsatisfactory and ineffective. European Court of Auditors’ full opinion on the CAP legislative proposals The European Court of Auditors (ECA) states that the legislative framework of this policy still remains too complex and (...)

EPHA response to the European Commission public consultation on sustainability agenda

EPHA responded to the European Commission public consultation on “Delivering a more Sustainable Production and Consumption” highlighting that greater synergies between sectors are necessary, especially to address both sustainable development and social inequalities. EPHA response to public consultation from DG Environment on Delivering More Sustainable Production and Consumption. The main rationale behind participating in the consultation was the fact that sustainability is (...)

’LiveWell for low impact food in Europe (LIFE)’ project launched in Brussels - chronic diseases and climate change in focus?

The ’LiveWell for low impact food in Europe (LIFE)’ project was launched in Brussels with a policy debate with stakeholders. The project intends to tackle two of the big challenges facing modern society - rising levels of chronic diseases and climate change – and looks for solutions that will tackle both simultaneously. But how adequately will it address the needs of the most vulnerable groups in our societies - the poor, children or experiencing inequalities, and (...)

What public health priorities for the Energy Efficiency Directive Review

The European Union currently reviews the Energy Efficiency Directive to step up Member States efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain – from the transformation of energy and its distribution to its final consumption. EPHA makes proposals on the public health gains or negative impact of such a Directive. On 22 June 2011, a new set of measures for increased Energy Efficiency was proposed by the European Commission to fill the gap and put back the EU on (...)

Priorities of the Danish Presidency in the area of Agriculture and Food

With the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union taking over as of January 2012, the Danish Minister of Agriculture spoke to both the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the EC DG Agriculture at their meetings on 23-25 January 2012. This article presents the most important issues to be dealt in the field of agriculture and food in the next 6 months. Work Programme of the Danish Presidency - Agriculture and Fisheries Unveiling the Danish (...)

Air pollution in the EU - European Environment Agency assesses the costs

Air pollution caused more than 100 billion euros in health and environmental damage: the European Environment Agency (EEA) found. This analysis shows the huge impact of fossil-fueled power stations and the very high costs they impose on people’s health and the environment, making the case for introducing cleaner, renewable and sustainable types of energy even more urgent and cost-effective. According to the EEA report "Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities (...)

30 sec to understand the importance of equity to improve intergenerational solidarity

During the OECD 50th Anniversary on ’Better policies for better lives’, EPHA Secretary General Monika Kosinska explained the importance of equity in improving intergenerational solidarity. EPHA participated in the OECD Forum to support the launch of the Better Life Index of OECD and contributed with a briefing on ’Beyond GDP indicators’ EPHA calls to all EU Member States: Health and well being - future golden standard to measure (...)

Press Release: Call to all EU Member States: Health and well being - future golden standard to measure progress

On the 24-25 May 2011, the OECD releases its Better Life Initiative with the Better Life Index, which uses ‘beyond GDP’ indicators to measure well-being. EPHA welcomes the inclusion of indicators that measure wellbeing and health, and EPHA Secretary General, Monika Kosinska will be a pannelist at eh 2011 OECD Forum Press Release ***For immediate release*** 24 May 2011 Call to all EU Member States: Health and well being - future golden standard to measure progress On the (...)

EPHA briefing on "beyond GDP"

EPHA has developed a briefing on "Beyond GDP" in preparation for the upcoming OECD forum that will focus on measuring societal progress. The briefing highlights the flaws of using GDP only as an indicator to measure progress, the need for up-to-date information for social indicators, action at the EU and international level is outlined, as well as other indicators that have been developed. Since the release of the Stigltz report in 2009, there has been much debate of the inability of GDP (...)