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News & Media: Air Quality

Letter to EU Commission: Scaling up public investments into health protection from pollution and climate change in the next EU budget

As the European Commission is currently finalising the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal set to be launched on 16 July 2025, HEAL has sent a letter to the EU Commission President, the Executive Vice-Presidents, and Commissioners urging to scale up public investments into health protection from pollution and climate change in the next EU budget.

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EEA: Greater efforts needed for clean air for 2030

Air pollution remains the largest environmental health risk for people in the EU, and more action to tackle it at the source is urgently needed, according to the 2025 edition of the Air Quality Status report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). As more health protective clean air standards will apply as of 2030, HEAL urges national and city authorities to step up on clean air measures, as progress has been too slow. 

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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. 

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The Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero-pollution deal

Against the backdrop of an ever-growing body of evidence on the health impacts and cost of people's exposure to pollution, HEAL is concerned that the Clean Industrial Deal misses the opportunity to set the EU on the path for swift and significant pollution reduction and disease prevention. To work for people in the EU and their health, the Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero pollution deal, with three principles at its core.

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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.

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Briefing: How clean air action can help address socio-economic health inequalities

As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

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Reducing air, chemicals and pesticides pollution for healthy brains: new research findings

HEAL recently highlighted the importance of continued EU action to reduce pollution in a panel discussion at the Brain Innovation Days. The science on how exposure to air, chemicals or pesticides pollution harms healthy brain development keeps growing: a recent review of 40 empirical studies conducted across four continents has shed light on the concerning link between outdoor air pollution and children's brain development.

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Polish Public Health Council publishes first-ever position on the health impact of air pollution and climate change

HEAL in Poland welcomed the first position (in Polish) of the Public Health Council on the steps necessary to reduce the exposure of people in Poland air pollution and the effects of climate change.  The Public Health Council is an advisory body to the Minister of Health. Their positioning is particularly important in the context of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) which entered into force on 10 December 2024.

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First patient in Poland officially diagnosed with illness caused by smog: a year in review

While the health impacts of air pollution are well-documented in scientific studies, this factor has not been recognized in Polish medical diagnoses as a primary cause of health issues until a breakthrough case last year. As highlighted by HEAL in Poland in May 2023, an eleven-year-old boy, Maciek (name changed), suffered for most of his life from a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and frequent infections, all of which worsened during the heating season. After a prolonged struggle by Maciek’s parents to find the true cause of his health issues, a conclusive opinion was finally issued, stating: “suspected bronchial hyperreactivity/allergy due to air pollution.” 

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HEAL response to public consultation on NEC Directive evaluation 

HEAL has given input to a consultation assessing the EU NEC Directive, a key instrument in the EU clean air framework, which requires member states to cut emissions of five key air pollutants. In our response, we urge for a stepping up of EU member states implementing the law, for greater coherence in the EU's policy framework, and for strengthening health prevention efforts. Now is the time to set the EU on the path for ambitions emission reductions after 2030.   

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Polish health experts call for a coal phase out, as smog season starts

Every year, air pollution in Poland reaches its highest levels during the smog season in winter. In view of the unacceptably high health burden and health costs from poor air quality, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and health experts urge the Polish government to increase efforts to reduce pollution in the energy sector. This includes setting a swift date for phasing out coal combustion in Poland, as well as accelerating the Just Transition in the energy sector.  

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HEAL assessment of the trio hearings of Vice-President-designate Ribera, Vice-President-designate Séjourné and Commissioner-designate Hoekstra

Over the past days, MEPs held confirmation hearings with Vice-President-designate Ribera, Vice-President-designate Séjourné and Commissioner-designate Hoekstra, whose complementary and mutually enabling portfolios respectively focus on “Clean, Just and Competitive Transition”, “Prosperity and Industrial Strategy” and “Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth”.  HEAL was encouraged to see strong coherence among the three designates on their shared commitment to protecting health against this triple crisis.  

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