Ahead of a European Parliament debate in which MEPs will be considering the ambition of the European climate policy for the next two decades, HEAL has sent a letter highlighting that the decisions taken will either increase the health burden from climate change or help prevent health impacts.
Ahead of an informal ministerial meeting on 10-11 July, at which EU environment ministers will be considering the ambition of the European climate policy for the next two decades, HEAL has sent a letter highlighting that the decisions ministers take will either increase the health burden from climate change or help prevent health impacts.
The EU’s proposed 2040 climate target to reduce domestic emissions by 90% - while allowing up to 3% to be met through international carbon credits – risks undermining health protections. The Health and Environment Alliance calls on member states to strengthen their climate commitments in order to protect health, rather than delay and weaken overdue action.
HEAL has sent a letter to EU environment ministers ahead of an Environment Council meeting on 17 June 2025, where ministers will be considering the EU's 2040 climate ambition as well as preparedness and adaption needs. The letter calls on ministers to step up in placing health protection at the centre of EU climate policies.
The May 2025 vote on the European Parliament’s priorities for the next EU long-term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034) included many important health considerations, including on financing for measures to prevent climate change and biodiversity loss. Unfortunately, MEPs failed to include financing to address pollution and the related health impacts. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) calls on earmarking at least 10% of the next EU budget for zero pollution objectives across various funding instruments.
HEAL and eight more Brussels-based organisations have sent a letter to EU Commission President von der Leyen and all EU Commissioners, urging them to uphold climate, nature and public health priorities in the next EU budget.
HEAL has sent a letter to MEPs, regarding their upcoming vote on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.
As the policy deliberations on the next EU budget for 2028-2034, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), have started, HEAL considers it crucial that health protection from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is at the core of spending and investment priorities.
The newly released European State of the Climate 2024 annual report (ESOTC), co-published by the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation program and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), confirms what public health experts have long warned about: the health costs of climate change in Europe are rising fast, and so is the human toll.
On 23 April, the European Parliament's BUDG committee is set to vote on the BUDG INI report on A Revamped Long-term Budget for the Union in a changing world, the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). HEAL has sent a letter to members of the committee.
This week, two important committees in the European Parliament – ENVI (Environment Climate and Food Safety) and FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) – adopted their opinion for an upcoming European Parliament resolution on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.
On 9/10 April, the European Parliament's FEMM committee is set to vote on the opinion to the BUDG INI report on A Revamped Long-term Budget for the Union in a changing world, the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). HEAL has sent a letter to members of the committee.
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.
In the coming months, EU institutions will negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s long-term budget, usually covering a seven-year period. It details the public spending for different areas of EU policies, including environment and climate action.
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.
In all mitigation and adaptation measures to 2040 which are currently being considered by EU decisionmakers (Proposal of a 90% CO2 reduction target for 2040; EU Climate Adaptation Plan), health needs to be at the core.
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.
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.
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.
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.
