On 24 June 2008, the Health and Environment Alliance co-organised a conference on “Climate change and the challenges for public health: engaging the regions” with the EUropean REGional Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA), the Veneto Region Brussels Office and North West of England Regional Health Office.

The objective of the conference, taking place in Brussels at the Committee of the Regions, was to provide a forum for discussion on the health implications of the proposed “Climate Action and Renewable Energy Package”, and raise awareness of regional climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

Health authorities agree recommendations on climate change

More than 60 participants produced conference recommendations on public health and climate change. One of the recommendations is that the EU’s domestic emissions cuts should be of at least 30% by 2020 rather than the EU’s existing target of 20%. Other recommendations include the development of national and regional communication and awareness raising activities on climate change for the health sector and further research on the co-benefits to health of climate change mitigation efforts. Full conference recommendations are available at www.env-health.org It is now open for signatures by sending an email to the HEAL Secretariat. We urge you to sign up!

Génon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance, welcomed the overwhelming endorsement at the meeting for putting health at the centre of thinking on climate change. “The health sector will be the worst affected, but it represents a large and influential group of professionals who can unite to make a difference.”

In many EU countries, the regions are responsible for health care. Francesco Ronfini, Chair of EUREGHA said: “This meeting has shown that the regions have the solutions to public health and climate change. Providing them with an opportunity to share their experiences multiplies the number of solutions that can be adapted and implemented at home.”

Meeting participants from national, regional and local health authorities, associations of medical professionals and other experts learnt that climate change initiatives could promote public health, especially through transport changes that stimulate physical exercise and improve air quality. They can also provide energy cost savings, improve staff morale and even improve recovery rates.

“Climate change and health good practice awards”

During the meeting, awards were presented to the winners of a “Climate change and health good practice awards” (visit the awards page by Dr Bettina Menne, medical officer of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, an expert on climate change and public health in Europe.

The mitigation initiative award went to Disability Essex for the “Sustainable Centre for Disabilities” project. The Centre will provide almost all its own energy needs with the help of solar power and windmill technology and offer disabled people both a refuge and a place to learn how to adapt to climate change. Some former construction workers who have become disabled will have the opportunity to retrain for jobs in the eco-construction industry.

The winner of the adaption project was the Municipality of Tatabanya in Hungary, where a network of social, educational, and health care institutions are involved in implementing a Heat and UV alert plan. When the alert goes out, junior school children are kept inside during the heat of the day, given more water to drink, and reminded of the other precautions they need to take.

Thirty-eight projects were entered in the competion from nine EU countries plus Australia and Switzerland. Fifteen contestants were from UK, seven from Italy, four from Sweden (including a joint Danish/Swedish entry), two each from Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland and one each from Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain. Brief details of all projects are available in [pdf.

HEAL Health-proofing climate change campaign

The Health and Environment Alliance is currently running a “Health-proofing climate change campaign” in Europe. It aims to put health at the centre of a robust EU climate change policy in preparation for a post-2012 global climate change agreement.

To view all the video clips from the conference, please visit the HEAL channel on You Tube

Please find below the conference programme, speakers’ presentations and conference recommendations.