In a letter, HEAL urges Members of the European Parliament to keep the current scope of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) to protect health against the triple crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
The Health and Environment Alliance, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health , and the city of Warsaw recently hosted a half-day science-to-policy consultation workshop. The workshop brought together representatives from the city of Warsaw and regional authorities, doctors, researchers, and other stakeholders to discuss how to reduce the urban burden of disease in Warsaw through environmental, climate, and urban policies.
In a letter, HEAL urges EU Heads of State to include measures to tackle pollution for people’s health in their blueprint for the next five years of EU policymaking.
As part of the conference “The role of green hospitals in tackling climate change", HEAL Poland organised a debate on the role of health experts in climate action and the health sector's preparedness, bringing together Polish and international health representatives.
This webinar series from the FREIA research project brings together leading partners to talk about their scientific findings after five years of research into the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on female reproduction.
The Green 10, the coalition of ten of the largest environmental organisations and networks active on the European level including HEAL, has sent a letter to European Parliament group leaders, making an urgent appeal to continue to prioritise a green and just transition towards climate neutrality, zero pollution and thriving nature, as political groups in the Parliament are holding talks over future priorities and consider their approval of a European Commission President.
The essential use concept is a relatively new notion in EU chemicals legislation that has great potential to speed up the regulation of harmful substances, by asking the critical question whether the specific uses of these chemicals are necessary for the functioning of society.
HEAL Director Génon K. Jensen writes for EUobserver on the importance to reflect the heavy toll climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are taking on health in the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 .
Press note: EU member states expert committee voted to ban some bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA), in food contact materials. This measure is much needed to protect people from these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), that have also been classified as toxic for reproduction.
Following the elections to the European Parliament which closed last night, health groups underline the need for a renewed, strengthened commitment by EU decision-makers to protect people’s health across the bloc:
Press release: In a move to prioritise public health and environmental sustainability, nineteen leading environmental and health organisations have united to call on EU candidates to commit to a toxic-free Europe.
HEAL Programme Lead Health and Chemicals Sandra Jen writes for Social Europe: Toys are among the top products in the European Union reported for health-and-safety risks. They account for 23 per cent of all alerts for dangerous consumer products in the EU’s rapid-alert system. The position recently adopted by the Council of the EU on revision of the legislation on toy safety is thus concerning, notably in failing to support a bans on PFAS and bisphenols.
The health sector is dealing with the heavy toll of climate change and needs to adjust to the increasing risks. A webinar held in May 2024 dove into what can be done when it comes to climate change adaptation and mitigation in the sector with experts representing doctors, patients and policymakers- see the recording below!
Press note: New Study – Chemical exposure can lead to higher risk of metabolic syndrome in children
The threat pollution and climate change pose to human health took center stage at the expert-led "Climate for Health" debate held at the headquarters of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. The event was co-organized by the think tank Medical Ration of State and "Rzeczpospolita" newspaper in April, bringing together prominent health experts, representatives of the Polish Parliament, Ministries and civil society. HEAL Poland took an active role in the exchange.
HEAL has sent a letter to EU environment ministers on European Environment Action Programme (8EAP) for adoption at the June Environment Council.
HEAL supports the proposed amendments to the REACH authorisation list entries for Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which is listed as a substance of very high concern under REACH due to its toxicity for reproductive prpoerties and its endocrine disrupting effects on human health and the environment.
HEAL strongly supports the inclusion of melamine, a substance that's harmful for human health and the environment, in the authorisation list of REACH.
The 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Europe briefing, co-authored by the Health and Environment Alliance, highlights key priority focus areas for European policy, supported by evidence from the Lancet Europe Countdown report 2024 on health and climate change.
Press note: The Council of the EU adopted their position on the updated rules of the toy safety regulation, which leaves many gaps on children’s protection from harmful chemicals.
