A monthly update for the health and environment community in Europe.

EU urged to take health delegation to climate change talks

Less than 1% of the official participants in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are from the health sector. Yet national health leaders and officials will be in the front line in dealing with future health crises associated with climate change.

Pendo Maro, our new climate change and energy policy advisor for both the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH), is in Bonn this week (10-11 June 2009). She will urge the EU to take a lead in making health representation considerably more prominent in future climate change talks. In an Open Letter to the Commission, we have asked the EU to include a health delegation at the important COP 15 meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009, where a new agreement on climate change is anticipated.

The World Health Organization is concerned that health is being marginalized in the discussions on climate change. At a recent High Level Meeting on Environment and Health in Bonn (27-29 April), Dr Roberto Bertollini stressed the need to give more attention to the health sector in the talks.

In May, HEAL and HCWH Europe put their policy position to some key health policy makers taking part in the EU Health Policy Forum. We officially launched our collaboration on health and climate change shortly afterwards.

The health community in Europe has already shown a strong and convincing commitment on climate change. In the UK, the Climate and Health Council is mobilising health professionals around the world. So far, doctors and health professionals in 106 countries have signed up to a "Pledge" that commits signatories to support for a meaningful deal being struck in Copenhagen. In the past few weeks, the Council has made it possible for all staff in the National Health Service (NHS) in England to view the "Age of Stupid", a film about climate change, for free at work.

In September, the World Medical Association is planning a seminar in Copenhagen on climate change and health. The Standing Committee of Doctors in Europe (CPME) has already developed its response, including encouraging members to inform patients of the "doubled positive" effects that small changes in exercise and diet can have for health and the environment.

HEAL member, the European Respiratory Society will be one of the first specialist medical society to publish recommendations on climate change and respiratory disease this August. It defines how those suffering from respiratory diseases will be affected, and highlights how respiratory doctors can become leaders in bringing the message home on the health benefits of tackling climate change.

Last year, HEAL jointly co-produced an important research report on the co-benefits to health of a strong EU climate change policy. In May, HealthCare without Harm published a joint report with the World Health Organization on addressing climate change in the health sector. HEAL and the European Lung Foundation have also joined forces to develop a new fact sheet on climate change and respiratory health.

HEAL’s vision on climate change goes well beyond both "health" and "Europe". In an article published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health earlier this year, Genon Jensen, HEAL’s Executive Director describes the need for health and well-being to be addressed via the so-called "health equity filter" approach. HEAL believes that any long-lasting, just, fair and equitable solution must be based on health equity and security.