Recommendations from the Turkish health sector on improving air quality
Turkey is a country with a high burden of disease from air pollution. Poor air quality is the leading environmental risk factor for premature death in the country (and also…
Webinar: Wood burning – a sustainable energy alternative or a health threat?
Wednesday, 6 July 2022, 10.00 – 11.30 am CEST In recent years, the burning of wood in private homes, in power or heat plants has increased, and is hailed by…
Leading Western Balkans health experts call on leaders in the region to set ambitious plans for zero air pollution policy
Leading health experts working in the Western Balkans, together with the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), have launched the first regional Expert Statement to call for the development and implementation…
HEAL and European Cancer Leagues relaunch infographic illustrating how Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants
To mark the start of the European Week Against Cancer 2022, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the European Cancer Leagues (ECL) have teamed up to relaunch an infographic telling the story behind environmental cancer prevention.
Reply from European Commision to civil society letter calling to save lives, protect nature from air pollution with science-based revised EU air quality standards
On 22 March, HEAL, together with 35+ medical, health, environmental, public health civil society organisations has sent a letter to European Commission Executive Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioners Sinkevičius and Kyriakides, calling on them…
HERA Final Conference: Research for the Green Deal / La Recherche pour le Pact vert
The Health Environment Research Agenda for Europe (HERA), of which HEAL is a project partner, will hold its final conference on 18 March 2022, taking place in Paris and as…
Health experts demand more attention and action on the public health threat of wood burning in the Western Balkans
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has today launched a briefing exploring the public health threat of wood-burning in the Western Balkans, as a major contributor to air pollution in the region. The briefing presents evidence-based arguments on wood burning and scientific data to support decision-making, as the Western Balkans and the EU shift to a carbon-neutral and healthy future.
HEAL urges MEPs to put spotlight on environmental health at EU French Presidency exchange
The European Parliament will hold an exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the programme of activities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (January - June 2022) on 19 January 2022. At the onset of the third year of Covid-19 pandemic, HEAL underlines how this exchange is a major opportunity for MEPs to demand urgent, non-ambiguous and much needed EU action to address environmental pollution, which affects everyone’s health in our society, starting with the most vulnerable.
High level panel: Why urgent action on the EU’s Zero Pollution ambition matters for health – voices from communities and vulnerable groups
Virtual, public event - moderated by Tamsin Rose. Friday, 10 December 2021, 14.30 – 16.00 CET Pollution harms our health and the environment. It is the largest environmental cause of…
EU air quality rules revision: HEAL response to the public consultation
HEAL has submitted its response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the revision of air quality rules, open until 16 December 2021. Every individual and organisation can have their…
There is no “safe level” of air pollution
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.
Clean Air For All – on the road to revised EU air quality standards for better health
Air pollution is the largest environmental threat to health in Europe. Following new WHO recommendations, health groups urge EU and national decision-makers to fully take into account the new science…
Letter: Call for the Health Ministry to get engaged on clean air and support evidence-based air quality standards
HEAL has sent a letter to EU-27 health ministries to call on them to get engaged on clean air and support evidence-based air quality standards. The letter was accompanied by a…
Health groups call for EU air quality standards to be fully aligned with new WHO recommendations
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.
NGOs to refuse invitations to speak at fossil-fuel sponsored media events
Sixteen leading European civil society organisations [1] have announced they will no longer accept invitations to speak at media events on EU policy sponsored by fossil fuel companies, in an…
HEAL webinar series on transport and health in Poland
The road transport sector is one of the main sources of pollution in cities. It also transforms public spaces into noisy and grey car zones, hindering active mobility. Transport pollution…
New report on children’s health impacts from transport pollution in Poland
Air pollution is the greatest health threat in Poland, with 50,000 premature deaths annually and a range of health effects including hospitalisations and rise in asthma cases in children. Polish…
Bengaluru Schoolchildren Breathing Polluted Air: Report
Up to two million schoolchildren (20 lakhs) in Bengaluru, India are potentially exposed to dangerous air pollution during their school day, risking asthma, allergic rhinitis and other chronic health impacts, according to a report released today by Healthy Air Coalition, Bengaluru.
