energy

Addressing fuel poverty in deprived urban areas

A practical example from the United Kingdom on how to tackle several social determinants of health (e.g. housing and energy) and have climate change benefits: In the last 18 months, more than 1,600 houses in the poorest parts of Stockton-on-Tees (United Kingdom) have benefited from free energy efficiency measures to cut local carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills. As well as external cladding, many homes have also received new boilers, central heating systems and internal insulation (...)

[Seminar report] Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing

The event ’Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing’ focused on the connection between health inequalities and affordable housing. It emphasised that investment in good quality housing can bring returns in health and environmental outcomes. Evidence shows that decent housing is an important social and environmental determinant of health These determinants lie outside of the health sector . Nevertheless, neither health professionals nor health policymakers (...)

[Seminar] Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing

The European Parliament URBAN Intergroup has the pleasure to invite you, this January 22, to a seminar entitled “Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing. Quality housing for population health and equity: EU cross-sector collaboration amidst health and social crises.” This event is a joint initiative organised by The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and CECODHAS Housing Europe. For far too long, housing and health have remained in fundamentally separate (...)

Energy and Health: How are these Policies Connected? Why should we Tackle Energy Poverty?

Energy poverty is spreading throughout the European Union’s Member States, with 50 and 125 million European citizens at risk. Bringing together all European stakeholders, this conference discussed the different aspects of energy poverty (housing, health, social exclusion, etc.) and will look at proposals for immediate and more lasting solutions in order to overcome this issue The European Local Inclusion and Social Action network (Elisan) in collaboration with the European Economic (...)

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 (...)

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 (...)

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 (...)

WHO report on Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing.

The WHO Europe published a report on the environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing. It provides substantial evidence on the consequences of bad housing on health. The report - entitled "Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing. Methods for quantifying health impacts of selected housing risks in the WHO European Region. Summary report." - looks at several health issues that would be improved with adequate housing: indoor dampness and (...)

Food For Everyone: Towards a Global Deal

On the 23rd of May the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a conference on global food security under the title “Food for Everyone: Towards a Global Deal”. The purpose of the event was to explore and understand the issue of food security and propose solutions supporting the achievement of the MGDs. With close to one billion people worldwide suffering from hunger1, and a much higher number from malnutrition, food security is again placed high on the political (...)

The missing option for the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013.

In November 2010, the European Commission presented its communication outlining objectives and scenarios for the EU Common Agricultural Policy after 2013. The Commission clearly opts for a more balanced and sustainable CAP aligned with the Europe 2020 strategy. Civil society working on the CAP proposed a fourth - healthier, stable and fairer - option put forward at the hearing organised at the European Parliament on 3 May, 2011. The European Commission communication outlines three options (...)