HEAL’s work in the Balkan region focuses on air pollution, climate change, and coal power’s contribution to health damages. We work with the main health actors such as Public Health Institutes, Ministries of Health, health organisations, and grassroots initiatives working towards clean air.
We also run the Unmask My City campaign in the region, continuously raise awareness on the health toll caused by fossil fuel energy and call for fair, efficient and sustainable energy systems that will cut down air pollution and energy poverty in the region.
Contact person:
Vlatka Matkovic Puljic, vlatka@env-health.org, +32 (0)2 329 00 82
Air pollution and health in Western Balkan cities
9th December 2021
A new series of HEAL briefings showcases the sources of air pollution in four cities in the Western Balkan region, and highlights why a phase out of coal power generation and fossil fuels in general would be beneficial especially for city residents.
There is no “safe level” of air pollution
18th October 2021
Health groups call on the leaders of the Western Balkan countries to harmonize national air quality standards with the World Health Organization Global air quality guidelines. Health experts should be actively involved in these decision-making processes to ensure the timely integration of public health measures into environmental policies. Compliance with WHO recommendations brings multiple benefits – reduced incidence of chronic diseases and premature deaths, reduced overall health costs and, most importantly, better health and higher productivity of people.
Health groups call for EU air quality standards to be fully aligned with new WHO recommendations
22nd September 2021
he World Health Organization (WHO) has today published its much awaited new evidence-based Global Air Quality guidelines, the first update since 2005. Health groups now urge the European Union and national decision-makers to protect the health of hundreds of millions by stepping up efforts for clean air for health. This can be achieved first and foremost by fully aligning EU air quality standards with the science based guidelines and other new studies - a step that thousands of citizens have been calling for.
