News on our policy work
The Unpaid Health Bill launched in Poland
Burning coal in power plants in Poland results in health costs of up to 8.2 billion every year, according to HEAL’s latest report now available in Polish. The report launched at a press conference in Warsaw, reveals for the first time the monetary health costs of health for Poland. Read more...
EU air quality measures: aim high!
Health and environmental groups warn that the proposals on future EU air policies scheduled for this autumn could fail to achieve the emission reductions needed to tackle air pollution. The joint paper submitted to the EU Commission underlines that the scientific evidence on health effects calls for the highest level of ambition. Read more…
The Unpaid Health Bill launched in Germany
Coal power plants in Germany are associated with health costs of more than 6 billion EUR per year. This is one of the findings on how coal pollution contributes to ill-health and death from the recent HEAL report “The Unpaid health bill”. The German version has now been launched with a press conference in Berlin. Read more…
Take Action!
European Citizen´s Initiative "30km/h – making streets liveable!"
European citizens are calling on the EU to introduce 30km/h as the standard speed limits for villages, towns and cities. More information here.
Events
June
20 June – European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium: Initiative for Clean Air in Europe
This event hosted by Peter Liese MEP and Chris Davis MEP focuses on practical solutions for clean air and best practice examples for clean air in cities. To register please email jennyfer.brendel@ep.europa.eu before 12 June 2013
The Unpaid Health Bill: How coal power plants make us sick presents the first-ever economic assessment of the health costs associated with air pollution from coal power plants in Europe as well as testimonies from leading health advocates, medical experts and policy makers on why they are concerned about coal.
The report develops recommendations for policy-makers and the health community on how to address the unpaid health bill and ensure that it is taken into account in future energy decisions.
More information here
Learn more about HEAL’s views and policy work on Air quality
7 March 2013: Coal’s health bill reaches €43 billion a year
14 December 2012: Air pollution ranked as top health risk factor in Europe
1 March 2012: HEAL backs 10 guiding principles and call to tackle an invisible killer
4 March 2011: Research quantifies increased life and wealth from cleaner air
14 July 2010: European and International Health Organisations unite to call for European action to combat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
All press releases on Air quality »HEAL response to EURACOAL statement
12 April 2013To: EU Environment Ministers
Re: Informal Environment Council: your exchange on air quality and urban environment, 22 April
24 April 2012
NGOs call for EU air quality limit values to be enforced by the European Commission
All letters on Air quality »31 May 2013: Joint NGO comments on review of air policies
5 March 2013: Joint position paper: NGO priorities for the review of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution
13 July 2012: Joint NGO comments on review of air policies
3 February 2012: Joint NGO comments on the analysis underpinning the review of EU air pollution policy review
11 May 2006: HEAL Position paper: EU thematic strategy and air quality health limit values
All position papers on Air quality »
11 December 2012: Background Paper: Health impacts of lignite-fired power plants: The German-Polish region Lusatia (German)
11 December 2012: Background Paper: Health impacts of lignite-fired power plants: The German-Polish region Lusatia
