Health and Environment Alliance

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Climate Change

Climate change threatens the basic elements of life such as access to food, water, shelter and clean air - which in turn severely impacts human health. Mitigation and adaptation policies are urgently needed to both avoid dangerous climate change and prepare for the changes we are already committed to.

The complex interlinkages between climate change and health include;

temperature-related illness and death,
flood-related injuries and death,
air pollution in the form of spores and moulds,
increase in water and food-borne diseases and vector-borne and rodent-borne diseases,
and food and water shortages.

HEAL calls for joined-up policy-making, placing health at the heart of climate change policy to ensure win-win approaches that improve health and quality of life for both present and future generations.

HEAL aims to:

- Increase understanding and advocacy on climate change adaptation and mitigation policies and measures

- Ensure responses to climate change incorporate health protection as a key component.

HEAL supports policies focusing on the most vulnerable groups and hopes to raise awareness of win-win-win scenarios for public health, adaptation and mitigation strategies.

>> Follow the links below to find out more about HEAL’s climate change and health approach

>>> RECENT NEWS <<<

1st February. HEAL and HCWH call on EU Heads of States to increase the European target on climate change.

We call for a 40% unconditional emissions reduction target by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The reductions should be made through domestic action, which could bring substantial benefits in improving people’s health and reducing healthcare costs.

Read the press release here

>> Join our Climate Change and Health list serve