environment

Commission’s analysis provides case for stronger EU climate action

The European Commission has released a new paper that looks at the costs and benefits of greater climate action. It shows that moving from the current 2020 target of a 20% cut in emissions to a 30% cut is cheaper than expected and that massive fuel savings, huge health benefits and many new jobs are expected. Apart from saving us money in these times of economic crisis, a stronger target to clean up and modernize the European economy will: Save an extra € 20 billion of fuel (...)

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 (...)

Environmental health inequalities in Europe. WHO Europe Assessment report

The newly published report from the WHO Center on Environment and Health (ECEH) assessing environmental health inequalities in Europe, emphasizes that interventions to tackle them need to be based on an assessment of their magnitude and on the identification of population groups that are most exposed or most vulnerable to environmental risks. WHO Europe Report: Environmental health inequalities in Europe. Assessment report. In the WHO European Region one citizen out of five dies from (...)

HEAL recruiting Policy Officer: Climate and Air Quality

The Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), of which EPHA is a member, is recruiting a part time Climate and Air Quality policy officer to contribute to their work to promote the better integration of public health benefits and impacts within these policies. The Health & Environment Alliance is Europe’s leading organisation working on how the environment affects health in the European Union. They are currently looking to recruit a part time policy officer to work on the policy (...)

EPHA priorities for the 7th Environment Action Programme

EPHA sent comments to the European Parliament draft own initiative report on the 7th Environment Action Programme to ensure that the European Parliament position will take into account fostering a health-promoting physical and social environment as part of the future Environment Action Programme of the EU. Fostering a health-promoting physical (and social-) environment as one of the core determinants of health and well-being at population level, remains one of the key policy and advocacy (...)

EPHA Briefing on Children’s Health

This EPHA Briefing on Children’s Health aims to provide Members with an overview of important policy fields where such actions could be taken to adequately, timely, in line with "health in all policies" and with a lifecourse approach deal with social determinants of health inequalities in European societies. Children represent the present and the future of our societies, and to guarantee their healthy and optimal development ought to be a priority. Early childhood is a critical time. (...)

Health ministers ’could have been stronger’ on health equity

On 1-2 December 2011, the Council adopted Conclusions entitled "Closing health gaps within the EU through concerted action to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours". EPHA considers that the Conclusions fall short on concrete objectives and targets that the current economic challenges would require, and the Council could have been stronger in its approach to tackling the problem. The Council of the European Union adopted, during its 1-2 December 2011 session, conclusions entitled "Closing (...)

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 (...)

Stopping fires caused by unattended cigarettes in the EU

Every year, 30 000 fires happen in the European Union because of cigarettes that are left unattended. The European Commission decided to act.

Health threats: EU proposal for better protection and more coordination

The European Commission has adopted a legislative proposal to address serious cross-border health threats. It builds on the careful analysis of ’’lessons learnt’’ from recent health crises.