Climate change threatens the basic elements of life such as access to clean air, water, food and shelter – and with that human health. But climate action could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.
HEAL works with Global organisations like UNFCCC, UNEP and WHO, with European and national decision-makers as well as environmental organisations towards climate and energy policies putting human health at the centre of their priorities.
New briefing: External costs of climate change and air pollution in Poland
Climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss affect people’s health and generate multi-billion-euro economic losses, as a briefing produced by HEAL Poland under the patronage of the Institute of Water Economy and Meteorology of the National Research Institute and the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy, and COPD Patients Associations highlights.
The next EU budget: Strengthening financing for zero pollution, climate resilience and disease prevention
In the coming months, EU institutions will negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s long-term budget, usually covering a seven-year period. It details the public spending for different areas of EU policies, including environment and climate action.
The Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero-pollution deal
Against the backdrop of an ever-growing body of evidence on the health impacts and cost of people's exposure to pollution, HEAL is concerned that the Clean Industrial Deal misses the opportunity to set the EU on the path for swift and significant pollution reduction and disease prevention. To work for people in the EU and their health, the Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero pollution deal, with three principles at its core.
Reducing the health cost of climate change: what needs to be done?
In all mitigation and adaptation measures to 2040 which are currently being considered by EU decisionmakers (Proposal of a 90% CO2 reduction target for 2040; EU Climate Adaptation Plan), health needs to be at the core.
Strengthening Polish climate and energy transformation efforts for better health
More than 40 non-governmental organisations, including HEAL, are calling on the Polish Prime Minister to enhance coordination among 12 ministries in preparing the National Energy and Climate Plan and implementing Poland's energy and climate transition.
Polish Public Health Council publishes first-ever position on the health impact of air pollution and climate change
HEAL in Poland welcomed the first position (in Polish) of the Public Health Council on the steps necessary to reduce the exposure of people in Poland air pollution and the effects of climate change. The Public Health Council is an advisory body to the Minister of Health. Their positioning is particularly important in the context of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) which entered into force on 10 December 2024.
New briefing: External costs of climate change and air pollution in Poland
Climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss affect people’s health and generate multi-billion-euro economic losses, as a briefing produced by HEAL Poland under the patronage of the Institute of Water Economy and Meteorology of the National Research Institute and the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy, and COPD Patients Associations highlights.
Health sector awareness and engagement on climate across Europe
This new briefing prepared as part of the EU-funded CISIP project aims to shed light on why “health” is at the heart of climate change and present some of the milestones of health sector engagement on climate.
New briefing on Mental Health and Climate Change Briefing in Collaboration with the Turkish Psychiatric Association
Civil society organisations and health experts, as part of the Health Collaboration on Climate Change…
Health benefits of a Green Deal approach in Turkey
A new briefing by HEAL (in English and in Turkish), as part of the EU funded CISIP project, underlines the many health benefits that could be gained if Turkish decision-makers implemented stronger Green Deal action. Turkey’s Green Deal Action Plan, launched in 2021, sets 32 objectives and 81 actions, including on a Green and Circular Economy, secure energy supply and sustainable agriculture. However, contrary to the EU Green Deal which was adopted in 2019, the Turkish plan doesn’t set any tangible targets or deadlines.
The myth of “clean coal”: why coal power generation is always unhealthy / “Temiz kömür” efsanesi: neden kömürden enerji üretmek her koşulda sağlıksızdır
A new HEAL analysis shows that even coal power plants using the latest filter technology would still create significant (and avoidable) health impacts and costs in Turkey. This analysis adds to the body of evidence on the health burden from coal power generation and underlines that in order to protect health, Turkey should set a coal phase out date of 2030, and shelve all coal plants remaining in the pipeline.
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.
New infographic on the health and climate threat from wood burning
A new infographic entitled “Wood burning: a false solution fuelling the climate crisis and harming…
Infographic: Health benefits of a Green Deal (TR)
A new infographic on the health benefits of a Green Deal has been created in…
Infographic: Mental Health and Climate Change (TR)
A new infographic on mental health and climate change has been created in the frame…
Infographic: health sector calls for climate action
New infographic on health sector engagement for climate action, as health protection: Download the full…
The next EU budget: Strengthening financing for zero pollution, climate resilience and disease prevention
In the coming months, EU institutions will negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s long-term budget, usually covering a seven-year period. It details the public spending for different areas of EU policies, including environment and climate action.
Strengthening Polish climate and energy transformation efforts for better health
More than 40 non-governmental organisations, including HEAL, are calling on the Polish Prime Minister to enhance coordination among 12 ministries in preparing the National Energy and Climate Plan and implementing Poland's energy and climate transition.
CSO statement: The EU Commission must provide guarantees on climate, nature and public health
Together with 180+ organisations, HEAL cal on the EU Commission to provide guarantees on climate, nature and public health, ensuring the protection of people.
Letter to the President of the European Commission on protecting people’s health against climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss
HEAL calls on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to commit to protecting people’s health from the triple crisis during her second term in a letter. HEAL urges her to safeguard and strengthen the EU climate and environmental acquis for better health, and accelerate on the zero pollution path, including for the foreseen reform of the EU chemicals law REACH.
Green 10 letter to the President of the European Parliament calling to address the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergency
The Green 10 coalition, which HEAL is a part of, encourages the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola upon her re-election to put the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergency at the forefront of her tenure.
Green 10 letter to the President of the European Commission on upholding and scaling up Green Deal commitments
The Green 10 coalition, which HEAL is a part of, encourages the EU Commission President to prioritize and scale up the Green Deal commitments towards zero pollution, thriving nature and health.
Press note: Health should remain in the scope of the ENVI committee
Press note: HEAL calls on the European Parliament to maintain health within the scope of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
Press note: 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Europe
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.
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.
Curing Chronic Coal: The health benefits of a 2030 coal phase out in Turkey
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) now highlights that phasing out…
An early coal phase-out in the Western Balkan can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), published today, shows that phasing out…
False fix: the hidden health impacts of Europe’s fossil gas dependency
First of its kind analysis on the health harm of burning fossil gas shows that in 2019…
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.
Curing Chronic Coal: The health benefits of a 2030 coal phase out in Turkey
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) now highlights that phasing out…
An early coal phase-out in the Western Balkan can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), published today, shows that phasing out…
