Health and Environment Alliance

Health risks from climate change highlighted in joint letter to the WHO

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-14T13:39:00Z

On 14 May, health organisations representing health and health-promotion professionals and health care institutions from around the world, wrote to the Director General of the WHO highlighting the urgent concerns of the health and medical professionals and health care workers in relation to the health risks from climate change.

14 May 2013

To: Dr Margaret Chan Director-General, World Health Organisation

Dear Dr Chan,

As health organisations representing health and health-promotion professionals and health care institutions from around the world, we are writing to you to highlight the urgent concerns of the health and medical professionals and health care workers in relation to the health risks from climate change.

Specifically we would like to alert you to the DOHA Declaration on Climate, Health and Wellbeing, developed during COP 18, the 2012 UNFCCC global climate change negotiations, and signed by over 80 health and medical organisations from 19 countries along with over 1000 individuals.

This Declaration expressed the desire of health and medical organisations around the world for the protection and promotion of health to be made one of the central priorities of global and national policy responses to climate change, and their willingness to engage to make this happen.

The Declaration and its list of signatories (attached) called for:

The health impacts of climate change to be taken into account domestically and globally

Investment in climate mitigation and adaptation to be significantly increased on a rapid timescale

The health sector and the community to be engaged and informed on climate action

It also states:

“Human health is profoundly threatened by our global failure to halt emissions growth and curb climate change. As representatives of health communities around the world, we argue that strategies to achieve rapid and sustained emissions reductions and protect health must be implemented in a time frame to avert further loss and damage.

We recognise that this will require exceptional courage and leadership from our political, business and civil society leaders, including the health sector; acceptance from the global community about the threats to health posed by our current path; and a willingness to act to realise the many benefits of creating low carbon, healthy, sustainable and resilient societies.”

We urge you to raise this issue as a matter of the highest priority in the World Health Organization, and to work with the signatories to this letter to help ensure the health implications of climate change and the opportunities to improve health through emissions reductions are understood and realised by effective action in all WHO member states. For example, the co-benefits of tackling both non-communicable diseases (a major focus of the World Health Assembly this month) and climate change are increasingly well known, and benefit both people and planet.

Given the urgency of the situation, we would be very grateful if you could share the Doha Declaration with other members of the Executive Board during your meeting on May 29-30 as an important contribution from the health sector.

We would be pleased to discuss how we can work closer with WHO global and regional offices and national health ministries to protect and promote global health through climate action.

Yours sincerely,

Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA)
C3 Collaborating for Health
Climate and Health Council (CHC) FHI 360
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)
Healthcare Without Harm (HCWH)
International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA)

Contact for correspondence: Fiona Armstrong, Convenor, Climate and Health Alliance, convenor@caha.org.au

Health risks from climate change highlighted in joint letter to the WHO

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-14T09:13:48Z

Health risks from climate change highlighted in joint letter to the WHO

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-14T09:12:33Z

HEAL Newsflash - May 2013

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-13T10:15:05Z

HEAL's latest Newsflash features:
HEAL welcomes MEP vote for better health protection in the 7th EAP
The future of EU EDCs policy
The Unpaid Health Bill launched in Germany
Health benefits from cleaner air
Fish consumption: which mercury intake is tolerable?

HEAL welcomes MEP vote for better health protection in the 7th EAP

HEAL welcomes the prominence given to improving health in the 7th EU Environment Action Programme including a focus to reduce asthma and allergies related to indoor air pollutants and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals such as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Read more…

European Environment and Health Ministers agree to accelerate Europe's work to minimise environmental health hazards

The fourth meeting of the European Environment and Health Ministerial Board in Belgrade concluded that urgent action is needed in Europe to tackle environmental health hazards including air pollution, asbestos, mercury, unsafe water and poor sanitation. Read more…

Late Lessons from Early Warnings: A Retrospective Look At Learning about Precaution

HEAL was pleased to co-host the first in a series of Partnership Calls by the US Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) focusing on recent EEA findings on Late Lessons from Early Warnings. Discussions started with how to learn from historical cases of environment and health disasters, followed by addressed case studies on hazardous chemicals. Read more…

Winner of HEAL´s health and environment film prize recognised at international film festivals

Ed Brown's documentary film ‘Unacceptable Levels' has been accepted into 17 international film festivals thanks to the success of winning the first ever film prize on health and environment at the 30th International Environmental Film Festival earlier this year. Read more…

The future of EU EDCs policy

20 environmental, occupation/workers and health organisations from across Europe urge EU Commission President Barroso and the EU Commission to put the EU on the path for significantly reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors. In a joint letter, the groups outline why comprehensive criteria, a far-sighted strategy and reviewing EDCs in REACH are needed to tackle the global EDCs threat. Read more...

Why human biomonitoring is important for public health and policy-makers

Support from EU decision-makers for human biomonitoring is growing. Measuring contaminants in our bodies can help politicians to fine tune or even launch new policies, allowing them to identify priorities and provide an early warning on potential threats to public health. Read more...

Leading scientist on EDCs speaks on “winning back” public health

Andreas Kortenkamp, author of two major reports on endocrine disruptors for the EU Commission, gave a lecture in Paris on tackling EDCs to win back public health. The meeting was organised by HEAL member Réseau Environnement Santé (RES). 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…

Changing your behaviour can help reduce climate emissions

A new report put together by the EU Commission highlights the potential of behavioural change for tackling climate change. A healthier diet and replacing fossil fuel cars with more sustainable modes of transport can make significant contributions to reducing emissions. Read more…

Study estimates health impact of coal-fired power plants in India

A recent study shows that emissions from coal-fired power stations in India have a worrisome effect on ill-health and death. Two thirds of India's electricity is produced by coal based power plants. Read more…

Health benefits from cleaner air

HEAL sent a letter to EU Environment Ministers ahead of the Informal Environment Council, urging them to consider the significant benefits for public health, well-being, and for the climate, that can be gained through ambitious EU measures to reduce air pollution. Read more...

Stakeholders back tighter air pollution controls

A summary of responses to the EU consultation on air quality policy was recently presented in Brussels. The answers show that the majority wants stronger emission reductions for cleaner air in Europe. Read more…

Fish consumption: which mercury intake is tolerable?

As the EU Food Safety Authority is currently reviewing the acceptable tolerable weekly intake for methyl mercury from fish, HEAL, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Zero Mercury Working Group have drawn attention to two reports on new scientific evidence on health effects. Groups call for a full revision of EFSA's scientific opinion with a stakeholder consultation. Read more…

Mercury exposure linked to diabetes risk

A new study warns that young adults who have higher levels of mercury in their systems may face a 65 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Read more…

Members' news

EPHA - A call to action: Health, civil society and the reform of economic governance

Vivosano - International Noise Awareness Day

INCHES - 7th International Conference on Children's Health and the Environment

European Child Safety Alliance - Children and Household Chemicals

RES - The role of EDCs in the rise of chronic diseases

Générations Futures - French government ‘ignoring advice on pesticides'

Vivosano - Voting recommendations on 7th EU EAP sent to Spanish MEPs

WECF - Strengthen chemical and product safety in the Western Balkans

ELF - New research on effects of ozone on the fatty lining of the lungs

EPHA - Briefing on health in Europe 2020

EFA - Call for support for Allergology education on World Asthma Day

Action for Breast Cancer Foundation - Malta Airport ALIVE 2013 Cycling Challenge for Cancer

Publications

NGOs Position Paper on the EC proposal for a Medical Device Regulation COM (212) 542

HEAL position paper on the 7th EU Environment Action Programme

Joint letter to EFSA on mercury in fish

Letter to EU Environment Ministers: your exchange on air quality and urban environment

HEAL & CHEM Trust's view on the report of the ED Expert Advisory Group

Events

May

15 – Brussels, Belgium: EPHECT Stakeholders meeting on chemicals in consumer products and indoor air quality - Registration closes on 14 May. Register and download the full programme here

16 - Brussels, Belgium: EP event - Can EU citizens afford their medicines? The economic crisis and access to medicines in Europe - More information and register here

June

4-7 – Brussels, Belgium: EU Green Week: Cleaner air for all - More information here

5 – HEAL at Green Week: Session 3.4 and Session 5.1.

5 World Environment Day - More information here

24 – 25 - Brussels, Belgium: European Citizen's Summit - First ever citizen's summit. Express your interest here before 14 May

August

20-23 – Basel, Switzerland: ISES-ISEE-ISIAQ 2013: Environment and Health – Bridging North, South, East and West - More information here

November

22 – Jerusalem, Israel: 7th International Conference on Children's Health and the Environment - More information here

Take action

Public consultation on the Green Paper ´A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies
The Green Paper published on 27 March by the EC launches a public consultation - Deadline 2 July 2013

Rights to water campaign: Water and sanitation are a human right!
More information and to sign the petition here

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.

Media coverage

Health and Environment

Unacceptable Levels Documentary video on demand release set for July 15
Wall Street Journal, 2 May 2013

Scientific Evidence of Health Effects from Coal Use in Energy Generation
HCWH & University of Illinois at Chicago report, April 2013

Coal

Gesundheitsschäden durch Kohlekraftwerke: Neue Studie befeuert Debatte
Deutsches Ärzteblatt, 24 April 2013 ‎

Schadstoffstudie: Kohlekraft verursacht Tausende Todesfälle pro Jahr
Spiegel Online, 24 April 2013

Studie: Kohlekraftwerke ruinieren die Gesundheit
Die Welt, 25 April 2013

Climate change

A vote in favour of the climate
European Voice, 11 April 2013

Mercury

Call a greater reduction in the limit of methylmercury in fish
Agris Online, 7 May 2013

HEAL tweets

HEAL welcomes the prominence given to improving #health in Europe in the 7th EU EAP http://bit.ly/11TaqPH
#CHEcall featuring David Gee and Lisette van Vliet from @HealthandEnv on precaution
Road #traffic #noise increases risk of #diabetes http://bit.ly/10TkkmK

EFA: Call for support for Allergology education on World Asthma Day

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-10T10:24:57Z

On the occasion of the World Asthma Day on 7 May, the European Federation of Allergy & Airways Diseases Patients' Association (EFA), the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the UEMS Section of Surgery & European Boards of Surgery and Allergic Rhinitis and its impacts on Asthma (ARIA) handed over an alert paper to the European Commission and the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament requesting EU support in the development of Allergology (...)

EPHA: Briefing on health in Europe 2020

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-10T10:22:51Z

The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has developed a briefing on health in Europe 2020 which highlights the importance of the health sector in reaching the Europe 2020 goals.

The briefing examines the health impacts of EU economic governance, the changes to healthcare systems and recommendations from civil society and the European Parliament on health in the annual growth survey.

EPHA highlights the health related recommendations from several NGOs, including the European Women's Lobby (EWL), as well as the health benefits of the EU reaching the Europe 2020 targets of CO2 reductions.

ELF: New research on effects of ozone on the fatty lining of the lungs

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-10T10:21:30Z

A recent study published in the journal Langmuir discovered that ozone causes severe lung problems by attacking fat molecules in the lung which line its surface. These molecules are vital in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide as they prevent the wet surfaces of the lung from collapsing.

Ozone, which is mostly produced in the upper atmosphere, but also can form at ground level as a result of burning fossil fuels, is known to harm lung systems and is linked to asthma and bronchitis.

Researchers in London used a model of the lung's surface to explore the effects of ozone. They used a level of ozone similar to what you might find in a polluted city in the summer. By monitoring different parts of the fat molecule separately, they collected detailed information about the structure of the lung surface.

Researchers then adapted the model to represent the lung of people with different forms of chronic lung disease to try to understand why ozone seems to affect them worse than others.

The findings show that ozone exposure on our lungs would certainly damage the ability of them to process oxygen and carbon dioxide, and could account for the respiratory problems associated with ozone poisoning.

WECF: Strengthen chemical and product safety in the Western Balkans

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-10T10:19:58Z

On 11 April, over 60 representatives of government, public agencies, civil society, and private sector met in Belgrade for the conference “Chemical and product safety in the Western Balkans - a priority area for the post 2015 agenda?” The conference was organised jointly by Women in Europe for a Common Future International (WECF) and UN team Serbia, together with NGOs from the Western Balkans.

Executive Director of WECF International Sascha Gabizon highlighted that the conference aimed to share key evaluation results and best practices from the 2-year EU-funded project on “Chemicals Safety and Product Safety in the Western Balkan – civil society cooperation on EU acquis and values for consumer protection and corporate responsibility“.

This project includes civil society organisations from Albania, FYR Macedonia and Serbia jointly with partners from Germany, France, Netherlands and Estonia who have been campaigning for stronger chemicals safety of products, particularly to protect children's health.

The project also achieved to build capacity on the EU regulation regarding chemicals safety and promote incentives for Corporate Social Responsibility regarding chemical safety of products.

Vivosano: Voting recommendations on 7th EAP sent to Spanish MEPs

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-10T10:18:26Z

On 22 April Vivosano, Ecologistas en Accion, Greenpeace, UGT, CCOO and Asquifyde y Fodesam sent a joint letter to Spanish MEPs of the Environment Committee with their voting recommendations on amendments to the 7th EU Environment Action Programme (EAP). The seven organisations called for the protection of European citizens from chemicals such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Pregnant women, children and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups to these substances and should be (...)

Générations Futures: French government ‘ignoring advice on pesticides'

Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) — 2013-05-10T10:17:07Z

Générations Futures recently condemned serious irregularities in pesticide authorisations in France. As a result of this negligence, more than forty dangerous pesticides have been allowed to remain on the market when they should have been phased out or restricted.

Supported by their review based on concrete data, Générations Futures plans to file a complaint against the French government for “endangering the life of others”. A demand will be made to the Ministry of Agriculture that problematic approvals are withdrawn and an appeal will be lodged for “wrongful failure to act” by the State.

The French NGO urges the Minister of Agriculture to take the necessary measures to suspend or immediately withdraw all pesticides approvals for which there are irregularities or non-compliance, and to urgently establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry on pesticides approvals. They also request that future decisions on pesticides approval should be made not only by the agriculture minister but also by the ministry of environment and ministry of health.

Link to the press release (FR) and press coverage here

Link to the full report (FR) here