HEAL’s office in Poland opened in 2013, and focuses on health, climate & energy and clean air. Air quality in Poland is one of the worst in the EU, and coal is the dominant source of electricity generation.
We raise awareness on how environmental pollution and climate change affect people’s health and policy responses needed with health actors, society and decision makers through meetings, events, publications, letters and media work. In particular, we communicate the latest science on the health impacts of air pollution and climate change, we amplify the voice of patients and of medical professionals (such as Doctors for Climate), and advocate together with civil society organisations and individuals for more health protective measures. We also actively engage in initiatives such as Europe Beyond Fossil Fuels, for a swift phase out of coal and other fossil fuels, or Streets for Kids, a Clean Cities Coalition activities for more school streets..
HEAL Poland website (in Polish): healpolska.pl
Contact person:
Weronika Michalak, weronika@env-health.org, +48 782 466 881
New briefing: External costs of climate change and air pollution in Poland
Climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss affect people’s health and generate multi-billion-euro economic losses, as a briefing produced by HEAL Poland under the patronage of the Institute of Water Economy and Meteorology of the National Research Institute and the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy, and COPD Patients Associations highlights.
Polish Parliament event on the link between pollution and cancer
On World Cancer Day, representatives from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) Poland attended the meeting of the Parliamentary Group "Rodzice dla Klimatu" (Parents for Climate). Experts from non-governmental organisations, the scientific community, and the healthcare sector discussed the impact of pollution on cancer and prevention. Olga Wdowiczak, environmental health policy specialist at HEAL, presented findings on how exposure to hazardous chemicals increases the cancer risk, particularly for children.
HEAL Poland continues to build capacity on health threats of chemicals
To address growing concern about harmful chemicals in Poland and to raise awareness about the impacts of chemicals on health in Poland, HEAL in November 2024 has started publishing materials and articles on the matter and engage the Polish health sector.
The Polish EU Presidency needs to protect health from climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss
Opinion by HEAL Poland Director Weronika Michalak: as the urgency to act on the triple crisis - climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss - becomes increasingly clear, I hope that the Polish Presidency of the European Union, which began on 1st January this year, will set the course for decisive EU climate and environmental policies aimed at protecting people's health across Europe.
Strengthening Polish climate and energy transformation efforts for better health
More than 40 non-governmental organisations, including HEAL, are calling on the Polish Prime Minister to enhance coordination among 12 ministries in preparing the National Energy and Climate Plan and implementing Poland's energy and climate transition.
Health groups call for the reinstatement of Poland’s Clean Air Programme
Together with thirty non-governmental organisations, HEAL urged Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk to immediately resume Poland's successful and much needed Clean Air Programme. The programme saves an estimated 21,000 lives annually through its approach of replacing outdated heating systems and improving home insulation.
