Press note: EU member states expert committee voted to ban some bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA), in food contact materials. This measure is much needed to protect people from these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), that have also been classified as toxic for reproduction.
Following the elections to the European Parliament which closed last night, health groups underline the need for a renewed, strengthened commitment by EU decision-makers to protect people’s health across the bloc:
Press release: In a move to prioritise public health and environmental sustainability, nineteen leading environmental and health organisations have united to call on EU candidates to commit to a toxic-free Europe.
HEAL Programme Lead Health and Chemicals Sandra Jen writes for Social Europe: Toys are among the top products in the European Union reported for health-and-safety risks. They account for 23 per cent of all alerts for dangerous consumer products in the EU’s rapid-alert system. The position recently adopted by the Council of the EU on revision of the legislation on toy safety is thus concerning, notably in failing to support a bans on PFAS and bisphenols.
The health sector is dealing with the heavy toll of climate change and needs to adjust to the increasing risks. A webinar held in May 2024 dove into what can be done when it comes to climate change adaptation and mitigation in the sector with experts representing doctors, patients and policymakers- see the recording below!
Press note: New Study – Chemical exposure can lead to higher risk of metabolic syndrome in children
The threat pollution and climate change pose to human health took center stage at the expert-led "Climate for Health" debate held at the headquarters of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. The event was co-organized by the think tank Medical Ration of State and "Rzeczpospolita" newspaper in April, bringing together prominent health experts, representatives of the Polish Parliament, Ministries and civil society. HEAL Poland took an active role in the exchange.
HEAL has sent a letter to EU environment ministers on European Environment Action Programme (8EAP) for adoption at the June Environment Council.
Press note: The Lancet Europe Countdown report on health and climate change 2024 indicates European governments have not successfully protected their citizens from the health impacts of climate change.
With the elections 6-9 June 2024, the EU strategic agenda, and a new policy cycle to 2029, European Union decision-makers can choose the path to better health, by recognising the urgency to act and adopting environmental and climate policies which accelerate the transformation that needs to happen in this decade.
Blogpost by Genon K. Jensen, HEAL founder and Executive Director on the need to prioritise health in the 2024 EU elections: it is time policymakers take strong and consistent action to address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution for their constituents' benefit.
HEAL has today sent a letter to members of the European Council regarding the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029. The over 80 members strong alliance working for a healthy planet for…
HEAL responded to the public consultation by the European Commission on the mid-term review of the 8th Environment Action Programme (8 EAP).
In only a couple of years, public and decision-makers' attention has increased on the health burden from environmental, climate threats and the opportunities for disease prevention through protective policies. HEAL…
EU-wide action to tackle health inequalities is urgently needed. HEAL’s Executive Director Genon Jensen joined a special webinar organised by the WHO Regional Office for Europe on 11 December 2023 to discuss just that.
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) recently hosted a half day science to policy consultation workshop with representatives of the Brussels administration and other stakeholders, on how to reduce the urban burden of disease in Brussels through environmental policies. This consultation workshop was the first in a series of stakeholder engagement activities in various cities in Europe.
Twenty years ago, I realised that environmental pollution is linked to ill health and serious acute and chronic diseases, like cancer, asthma and respiratory diseases. This is when I launched into my environmental health journey and founded HEAL. It became clear to me that our ways of living and the environmental pollution resulting from that impacted our health. I wanted to know more about the impacts and the extent, how much of it was preventable, and what role and power policy-making could have in it....
In October 2023, HEAL hosted its annual General Assembly gathering members and partners together. This year was a special occasion to celebrate the achievements in protecting people’s health against environment and climate threats since the organisation's inception 20 years ago, and to look ahead.
The Green 10, of which HEAL is part of, has written a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to express their concern about the nomination of the Dutch Designate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra as Climate Commissioner:
During the 7th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, the Budapest Declaration to accelerate action for healthier people, a thriving planet and a sustainable future was adopted by health and environment ministers of countries of the WHO European region.
