Climate Change

Environment and Health Policy

Environment Ministers agree on climate change and sustainable development measures

On 10 March 2005, Environment Ministers met in Brussels and adopted conclusions on climate change with a view to setting new objectives for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the period after the expiry of the Kyoto protocol after 2012. They involve medium- and longer-term strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions assorted by targets
This decision, which was submitted to the European Council of 22 and 23 March 2005, obliges industrialised countries to reduce their (...)

UK Presidency semester to focus on climate change

The United Kingdom will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union next June.
The priorities of the Presidency have not yet been published, however according to the media, the UK will focus on environment and climate change.
The UK also holds the presidency of the G8, an informal grouping of the world’s eight richest countries, which will work on the following issues during 2005: climate change, Africa, counter terrorism, non proliferation of chemical, biological, (...)

About us & our members

Inter-Environment Wallonie launches campaign on energy savings in Belgium

Inter-environnement Wallonie is launching for the fourth consecutive year its 2006 campaign entitled: “Quel énergie... dans ma commune?” (« Which energy... in my community? »).
On the occasion of the launch, Inter-Environnement Wallonie organizes a tour of 4 « Kyotodynamic communities ». The purpose of the visit is to highlight their good practices in the field of energy sustainable use. The visits take place during the month of November on Saturdays (5th, 12th and 26th (...)

WECF at the UNFCCC COP11 in Montreal

WECF (Women in Europe for a Common Future), one of EEN’s most active members is collaborating with a German NGO (Genanet, Leitstelle Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und Nachhaltigkeit) to strengthen women’s participation in the UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) process.
They have set up a mailing list addressed to the women’s organizations in Europe on UN climate change and energy policy, to identify gender aspects related to it in preparation to the COP 11/MOP-1 in Montreal. (...)

Climate Change

Health groups call for 40% target on carbon emissions

HEAL and member organisation, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWHE), are calling on EU Heads of States to increase the European target on climate change.
Health groups are seeking a 40% unconditional emissions reduction target by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The reductions should be made through domestic action, which they say could bring substantial benefits in improving people’s health and reducing healthcare costs.
We issued a joint position statement after the Copenhagen talks in (...)

>>News: Lung doctors sound alert on global warming

Brussels 1 August 2009 – The risk of premature death due to temperature increases associated with global warming is 6 times higher for Europeans who are already suffering from respiratory problems, according to a paper published today by the European Respiratory Society (ERS).
Read the full press release here
Position paper available from the 1st Aug - published in the European Respiratory (...)

A planetary prescription – HEAL push health to the centre of climate change talks

On the 6th October, HEAL will launch our campaign to put health at the heart of climate change negotiations. Based on our climate change position, we will launch a new global advocacy campaign that aims to put health at the heart of climate change negotiations.
The Prescription for a Healthy Planet, has been developed by HEAL, the Climate Health Council and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH). The campaign provides a clear roadmap for the health community, setting out the magnitude of (...)

Air quality ‘co-benefits’ should be considered in climate policies

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have the additional benefit of reducing air pollutants and therefore helping to significantly improve health. However, these ‘co-benefits’ to health are rarely included in climate change policies. In a new US study, released in March, scientists suggest that considering the benefits to health in climate change policy could reduce the cost of such policies, and help to engage stakeholders.
This new report suggests that GHG abatement measures, such as (...)

Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections in Europe

In October 2004, the European Environmental Agency (EEA) released a technical report on greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections in Europe 2003.
The purpose of this technical report is to analyse and present the progress of the European Union as a whole towards fulfilling its greenhouse gas emission commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, and the contribution of each Member State towards achieving their ’burden (...)

Budapest Opportunity missed to link climate change and health

The core objective of the Cardiff Process, declared in 1998, is the integration of environmental aspects into other areas of EU policy. One would think that climate change would have served as a model example to illustrate and implement that objective, as it covers many sectors and issues. Unfortunately, the past six years have shown that apart from some effort in energy policy, decision makers have failed to introduce climate policy aspects and climate change awareness in other areas. (...)

Climate change and communicable diseases

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) last week launched a new handbook for national vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessments.
Climate change and communicable diseases in the EU Member States was lunched at a side event at the WHO 5th Ministerial on Environment and Health in Parma last week by Chief Scientist Professor Johan Giesecke of the ECDC. Climate change has already had measurable effects on the varied climates of Europe and further changes are (...)

Climate change and health policy update – April 2010

Climate change and health Policy Developments. An overview of policy developments in the EU. For more details, please contact Pendo@env-health.org.
On 9th – 11th April, UNFCCC held the international climate change talks in Bonn, following Copenhagen 2009. The talks were attended by more than 1700 delegates from 175 countries. Governments agreed to hold two additional meetings between the currently planned meetings (31 May – 11 June, Bonn and 29 November – 10 December, Cancun 2010). (...)

Climate change and health policy update – December 2009 & January 2010

Climate change and health Policy developments - An overview of policy developments in the EU.
European Parliament Resolution on Climate change: voting results In a plenary vote on its Resolution on Climate Change on the 24th November, the European Parliament recognised the need to consider public health, as well as the co-benefits of emission reductions to global health.
In their press release, MEPs emphasised that an agreement in Copenhagen could stimulate a ’Sustainable New Deal’ boosting (...)

Climate change and health policy update – February 2010

Climate change and health Policy developments - An overview of policy developments in the EU. For more information please contact Pendo Maro, pendo@env-health.org
14–17 January – Informal Environment Council: Ministers agreed to pledge a single EU target for reducing Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, rather than individual national targets, to the annex of the Copenhagen Accord. According to the Copenhagen Accord, all industrialised countries are to submit their emissions (...)

Climate change and health policy update – March 2010

Climate change and health Policy developments - An overview of policy developments in the EU. For more information please contact Pendo Maro, pendo@env-health.org
On 15th March, EU Environment Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on Climate Change, as a follow up to the UN Copenhagen Climate Conference in December. Unfortunately the EU is not considering the health benefits and costs savings of higher carbon emission reductions, and has not changed its position to commit to reducing (...)

Climate change and health policy update – October 2009

Climate change Policy developments - A overview of up-coming policy developments in the EU.
This month will see the European Parliament Resolution on climate change and discussions around the EU negotiation position. The Council will be discussing the newly released proposals on the EU’s contribution to climate change financing. HEAL will keep you posted on their progress.
Watch the vote on October 19th in the Parliament’s Environment Committee to see if MEPs support amendments on health (...)

Climate change and river flooding in Europe

Summer 2005 will be remembered for the violent storms and torrential rains that hit many European countries, from the Balkans (particularly Romania and Bulgaria) to Switzerland. Over the past three months, the bad weather has thus affected millions of people, while thousands have lost their homes.
As often in the past, floods have highlighted how unprepared European countries are, especially in Eastern Europe, to deal with major disasters. Action to prevent flooding and to reduce its (...)

Commission proposes new EU climate policy

The European Commission has released a communication that analyses the economic and policy implications of the EU increasing its greenhouse gas emission reduction target to 30% (compared to those of 1990) instead of the current 20%.
The Communication, released by the newly formed Directorate General Climate Action under Commissioner Hedegaard, demonstrates the economic feasibility of reducing the EU’s CO2 emissions from 20% to 30%. Whilst the initial financial investment required will be (...)

DFID analysis of climate change effects on poverty

The UK Department for International Development has developed a series of key sheets on climate change and poverty.
In particular, the key sheets examine the impact of climate change on the health of the poor. According to this analysis, ¨climate change will worsen health principally through:
increased vulnerability to poor health due to reduced food security and water security;
water-borne diseases associated with reduced water quality due to floods and drought;
more favourable conditions (...)

EEA highlights the Health Impacts of Climate Change

The EEA report Impacts of Europe’s Changing Climate, considers past trends in the climate, its current state and possible future changes. Presented using 22 selected indicators split into 8 categories of which one is related to Human Health Impacts.
In the chapter on Human Health the EEA considers,
heatwaves,
flooding,
tick-borne diseases
For all of these a clear trend exists and impacts are already being observed. The report highlights the need to develop strategies at European, (...)

EEN contribution to the EC consultation on Climate Change

EPHA Environment Network responded to the EC consultation on post-2012 Climate Change policy which was closed on 31 October.
EEN contribution is based on Climate Action Network (CAN) response and includes some extra comments on the health effects of climate change.
EEN related articles on climate change
Read EEN contribution to other EU consultations

Environment Commissioner announces a new phase of the climate change programme at Green Week

On the occasion of the opening debate of the Green Week in Brussels, Stavros Dimas, Environment Commissioner presented the issue of climate change and all the implications for our lives. He stressed the importance of the environment within European policies and highlighted the need for a stronger one to reach EU-Kyoto targets. “Therefore the Commission intends to launch a new phase of the ECCP (European Climate Change Programme) and identify further measures to reduce (...)

EPHA Environment Network policy paper on climate change and health

On the occasion of Green Week 2005 ¨Getting to grips with Climate Change¨, EPHA Environment Network published a policy paper on EU climate change policy and health.
Climate change is a major threat to human health. If the global emissions of greenhouse gases are not stabilised and subsequently reduced, health services will not be able to cope adequately with the health impacts of climate change. In the interest of human health, EEN will support all sustainable measures that reduce the (...)

EU plan targets health problems of climate change

The European Commission has published a plan detailing the impacts of climate change on health and outlining the role of the health sector and the needed adaptation measures. The plan was launched as a Staff Working Document on 1st April at the same time as the EU’s White Paper on Climate Change Adaptation and outlines EU plans for tackling all emergency and health-related problems associated with climate change.
The Working Document - "Human, Animal and Plant Health Impacts of Climate (...)

EU’s future climate change policy

On 9 February, the European Commission adopted a Communication on ¨Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change¨ setting out action on climate change after 2012, ie when the first commitment period under the Kyoto protocol ends*.
The Commission’s Communication recommends that the EU’s post-2012 strategy include the following elements:
Broader international participation in reducing emissions. The EU should continue to lead multilateral efforts to address climate change, but identify (...)

European Commission’s consultation on new climate change policy

On 14 September 2004, the European Commission started a web-based stakeholder consultation on the post-2012 climate change policy.
The consultation gives an opportunity for stakeholders (citizens, businesses, policy makers, NGOs, authorities, scientists and others) to contribute to the debate on the future of global climate policy. The Commission will use the contributions in the development of the EU’s future climate change policy and its contribution to the international debate on the (...)

European Parliament’s vote on Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

The European Parliament voted for all new houses, offices and shops built in the European Union to produce the same amount of energy they consume. The vote, which was passed on the 23rd April, calls for an overall deadline of 2019 for all new buildings, with all new public buildings given an earlier deadline of 2016.
The vote is in response to the revision of the directive aimed at improving energy performance in buildings. The revision provides an opportunity to strengthen the existing (...)

European Youth Forum debate on the role of young people in fighting climate change

On 12 March, the European Youth Forum held a Round Table in Brussels to discuss the role of youth in combating climate change. Much of the debate focused on Europe’s role within climate change. It was widely noted that the European Commission’s January 2009 communication - “Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen” - lacks coherent measures to reach the targets and mention of how the leverage the finances required.
Speakers included Stéphane Buffetaut, President of (...)

Green Week 2005: Get to grips with climate change

Green Week 2005 will look at all aspects of climate change and in particular at the human factor. The purpose is to invite and encourage everyone to "think aloud" about how we can all change our environmental behaviour. It is aimed at local, regional and national decision-makers, businesses, non-governmental organisations and the general public.
DG Environment will bring stakeholders and experts together to provide the Commission with the knowledge and views to help us further develop (...)

Health experts should have higher profile in climate change talks

The impact of climate change on human health should be given a higher priority as governments prepare for crucial international negotiations at the end of the year, according to two non-governmental organisations.
The Health and Environment Alliance and Healthcare Without Harm want the European Union to include senior health experts in its delegation to the Copenhagen talks in December.
Pendo Maro, the joint senior climate change and energy adviser to the two organisations, said, "The (...)

Media coverage on climate change and health

Below is a list of press releases and wider media coverage on climate change and health
Press Releases
1/02/2010 Health groups call for 40% target on carbon emissions
16/12/09 Tackling the twin threats of climate change and the global health gap
10/12/2009 High level health delegates head to COP15 negotiations
25/11/2009 Health impact of climate change recognised in EP resolution
04/11/2009 Health leaders call for strong measures on climate change
20/10/2009 Health impact of (...)

New project seeks to help EU cut transport emissions

The end of March saw the first stakeholder meeting of a project seeking to address EU transport emissions. As rising greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) within the EU transport sector seek to jeopardize the EU’s emission reduction targets, a new DG Environment funded project – ‘EU transport GHG: routes to 2050?’ tries to understand why this is happening, and how it can be resolved.
A project managed by AEA and CE Delft, ‘EU transport GHG: routes to 2050?’ will run until March 2010 and aims (...)

New report calls for holistic approach to climate change

A new report offering recommendations to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable countries and communities was released last month by the international Commission on Climate Change and Development. The report, Closing the Gaps, was presented at the United Nations on the 14th May.
The work of the Commission has focused on adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction. Closing the Gaps, their final report was presented to Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon in (...)

Recent developments on the European and global climate change agenda

Three events related to climate change took place in mid-may 2005, namely the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament, the 5th Global Forum on Sustainable Energy (GFSE-5) in Vienna and a seminar of governmental experts on climate change in Bonn.
The GFSE-5 that took place in Vienna from 11-13 May discussed ways to enhance international cooperation on biomass, including through the expansion of international market and trade. It allowed discussion on biomass use as fuel and food (...)

Stakeholder conference: "Post-2012 climate policy for the EU"

On 22 November 2004, the European Commission organises a Stakeholder Conference on the EU’s approach to the international co-operation against climate change after 2012, when the current Kyoto Protocol’s targets end.
The Conference aims at exploring options on how the EU should build on the Kyoto Protocol and how countries should work together after 2012 to fight against climate change. The Conference gives an opportunity for citizens, businesses, policy makers, NGOs, authorities, (...)

Strengthening the role of health in climate policy

This month European Parliamentarians voted in favour of strengthening health protection within EU climate adaptation policy, have both been welcomed by many in the public health and medical community.
Parliamentarians voted in favour of strengthening health protection in EU climate adaptation policy and acknowledged the possible benefits to health of adaptation measures. The parliament’s report - a response to European Commission’s proposal for climate adaptation in the EU - contains a (...)

UK Memorandum on emissions trading systems and international climate agreements

The UK Parliament Environment Audit Committee is at present conducting an Inquiry into the "International Challenge of Climate Change: UK Leadership in the G8 and EU." The UK not-for-profit group Corner House has submitted written evidence to the Inquiry on the feasibility of emissions trading systems as a framework for negotiating a post-Kyoto Protocol international climate agreement. Its principal conclusions are that:
International emissions trading systems as currently conceived (...)

UNFCC COP takes cautious look at post-Kyoto era

On 18 December 2004, climate change negotiators wrapped up two weeks of discussions by agreeing to engage in further talks on what might come after the Kyoto Protocol. The tenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened on a high note in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the recent Russian ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and its imminent entry into force. 2004 also marked the tenth anniversary of the UNFCCC, with the largest greenhouse (...)

UNFCC Tenth Conference of the Parties opens in Buenos Aires

The Tenth session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 6 December 2004.
COP 10 will mark the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will serve as a central theme for the meeting. In addition to the accomplishments of the past ten years and future challenges, discussions at COP 10 will highlight a range of climate-related issues including the impacts of climate change and (...)

UNFCCC Barcelona negotiations: Prescribing for a healthy planet

During the Barcelona UNFCCC negotiations, some of the world’s largest medical, nursing and public health organisations called on world leaders to take bold action to address climate change. At the final climate change negotiations before the Copenhagen summit, HEAL and Health Care Without Harm launched the second stage of their campaign push for a binding climate change treaty that protects the health of the planet and the people.
At the well attended press conference, a giant placard, (...)

WHO comments on the health effects of extreme weather events

Experts say the factors behind France’s heat wave this summer are common in Europe and North America - and higher temperatures linked to global warming mean a similar disaster could easily happen again.
"We have to recognize that in the next years and decades, these episodes of heat waves will even be more frequent, sometimes even more severe", said Roberto Bertollini, an environmental health expert with the World Health Organization.
The country is far from fully figuring out why so many (...)

WHO says reducing greenhouse emissions could cut global disease burden by 25%

The World Health Organisation urged policy makers to consider the serious implications of climate change on health, at a conference in Copenhagen on 10-12 March, .
Speaking at the conference - Climate Change Global Risks, Challenges, and Decisions - the World Health Organisation (WHO) argued that improving environmental conditions could help reduce the global disease burden by more than 25%.
Currently, WHO has estimated that about 150 000 people die each year in poor countries from the (...)

WHO: Moving on from Copenhagen

Healthy people, healthy planet
As we all take stock of the implications of the Copenhagen CoP, one lesson is clear. If we are to maintain and expand public and political support to act on climate change, we need the headlines to be more about what we are aiming to achieve, and less about the process. We need to be clear that this is not just about targets and agreements, economy and costs, but about a better future for humanity.
In Copenhagen, WHO outlined an additional proposal; to (...)

World’s leading scientists urge politicians to act on climate change

From 10 to 12 March, 2,500 of the world’s leading scientists met in Copenhagen and issued a plea to politicians to act now on climate change, warning that without action the effects could be disastrous.
The International Scientific Congress on climate change - "Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions" - was attended by more than 2,500 scientists from nearly 80 countries and organised in cooperation with universities in the International Alliance of Research Universities (...)

Air Quality

New international treaty requires industries to report on pollutants


In September of this year, Industries throughout the European Union will be required to report annually on the levels of pollutants they release.
The Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Aarhus Convention, signed by thirty-six governments and the European Community in May 2003 in Kiev, Ukraine, is set to enter into force on 8 October 2009 following France’s ratification, which was declared on10 July.
Pollutant (...)

Report: Linking air quality and climate change can be cost-effective

If the effects of air pollution on climate change are included in air quality strategies, efficiency gains of €2.5 billion can be achieved in the EU, according to recent research.
Various greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and pollutants both affect the climate and air quality, yet climate change and air pollution are often treated separately in environmental policy.
Air pollutants are regulated through the Gothenburg Protocol of the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (...)

More issues

Launch of UN-backed Public Transport Campaign

On 8 February 2005, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) have joined forces to promote the environmental and life-style benefits of public transport in a new TV campaign.
An animated 30 second commercial available in English, French, German and Spanish and produced by McCann Erickson is scheduled to run across a growing list of international stations (BBC World, CNN International, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, National Geographic (...)

Commission consultation on how to cut climate change impact of airplanes

Air transport is growing fast worldwide,and causing unwelcome increases in CO2 emissions. In the EU, CO2 emissions from aviation grew by nearly 70% from 1990 to 2002. Therefore, on 11 March the European Commission launched an online consultation on how to reduce the impact of air traffic on climate change. The consultation is to run for 8 weeks and the results will feed into a strategy planned for this summer focusing on how economic instruments could be used to reduce the climate change (...)