Press note: Health should remain in the scope of the ENVI committee

The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) calls on the European Parliament to maintain health within the scope of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).  

Separating environmental, climate, and health policy work would hinder member states’ efforts and create conflicts of competence among EP committees, delaying effective disease prevention.

The European Union faces unprecedented health threats from climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, with 20% of early deaths and diseases in Europe attributed to pollution. Environmental determinants of health are significant risk factors for chronic diseases. Climate change further exacerbates these health issues.

Maintaining health within the ENVI committee aligns with the ‘One Health’ approach DG Sante operates on and is critical for the success of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. HEAL urges the European Parliament to keep health competences within the ENVI committee to ensure continued progress in legislative proposals on environment and climate, and to protect public health effectively.
 
HEAL Deputy Director Anne Stauffer comments:
“Separating the European Parliament’s environmental, climate and health work into two committees would be a disservice to people, as they are increasingly experiencing the health impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. ENVI has been successful in ensuring better protection through strengthening policies that have addressed air pollution, reduced exposure to health-harming chemicals, improved water quality, and climate mitigation. HEAL urges Members of the European Parliament to keep health competences in the scope of the ENVI committee, as the environment is a major determinant of people’s health and a major risk factor for chronic disease.”