False fix: the hidden health impacts of Europe’s fossil gas dependency
First of its kind analysis on the health harm of burning fossil gas shows that in 2019 alone, burning fossil gas for power (and heat) generation caused over 2,800 premature…
Decades of chronic coal pollution in Turkey have led to a large, unacceptable health burden
HEAL’s new analysis on “Chronic coal pollution Turkey: Cumulative health effects” highlights that the country’s decades-long dependency on coal power generation has led to unacceptably high health impacts and costs.
The Commission must live up to its European Green Deal promise and stop subsidies to fossil fuel companies, experts warn
European climate, environmental and health NGOs have sent an open letter to the European Commission urging it to ensure that bloc-wide guidelines on energy subsidies do not allow taxpayers’ money…
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…
Bundesregierung verpasst Chance, tausende vorzeitige Todesfälle aufgrund von Luftverschmutzung aus Kohlekraftwerken zu verhindern
Bundesregierung legt unambitionierte Grenzwerte für Kohlekraftwerke fest, die zu über 18.000 vorzeitigen Todesfällen führen werden. Fast die Hälfte davon entfallen auf nur 3 Braunkohlekraftwerke Neurath, Lippendorf und Boxberg· Umwelt- und…
HEAL reaction to the European Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan
Today, the Commission published its Zero Pollution Action Plan for air, water and soils (ZPAP). Anne Stauffer, Director for Strategy and Campaigns at HEAL commented: “The European Commission today has…
Bundesregierung blockiert Umwelt- und Gesundheitsschutz bei der Umsetzung von EU-Schadstoffgrenzwerten für Kohlekraftwerke
• Entwurf der Bundesregierung setzt Grenzwerte für Ausstoß von Schadstoffen von Kohlekraftwerken (unter anderem für Quecksilber, Stickstoff, Schwefeloxide, Feinstaub) zu hoch an und ist damit absolut unzureichend, um Menschen und…
Pollution from coal power costs Turkey as much as 27% of its total health expenditure – new report
Turkey is pushing ahead with plans to double its coal power capacity with 30 new coal power stations despite major health impacts and costs linked to the country’s existing coal…
EU industrial pollution law revision essential to cut greenhouse gases and pollutants
Brussels - The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) currently excludes limits on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), making it unfit to support the EU's moves to address climate…
Just transition for health protection – Why disease prevention and zero pollution need to be at the heart of energy investments
The upcoming finalisation of the Just Transition Fund will set the financial framework on how European regions will execute the much needed transition to carbon-neutral economies. Decades of fossil fuel…
Lancet Countdown 2020 underlines health benefits of decisive climate and recovery action
Responding to the converging climate and COVID-19 crises can deliver a triple win: better public health, a sustainable economy and environmental protection. Climate action can ensure cleaner air, healthier diets,…
Proposal for 55% GHG reduction target for 2030: near miss is still a miss
In her first State of the Union speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today proposed upping the EU’s 2030 target for GHG emission reductions from the current -40%…
European Parliament’s vote on Just Transition fund is a disappointment
Today, the European Parliament has adopted its position on the 17.5 billion EUR Just Transition Fund. HEAL, together with 64 other organisations, has been advocating to exclude fossil gas from…
Chronic Coal Pollution Serbia – Making the case for health promoting investments for zero pollution in Serbia
Coal combustion is the dominant form of energy generation in Serbia and the Western Balkans, with severe health consequences - the 16 outdated coal power plants in the region produce…
Letter to Chinese Banks by More than 20 Turkish NGOs
Adana – More than 20 civil society organisations have sent a letter to Chinese banks, China Development Bank, ICBC and Bank of China, calling on them to withdraw their financial…
New science commentary: How fossil fuel-derived pesticides and plastics harm health, biodiversity, and the climate
A new commentary published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology shows how three global health threats - chemical pollution (including endocrine disrupting chemicals), loss of biodiversity and climate change - are more strongly interlinked than previously thought by their common origins in fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas, including that derived from fracking.
Moment of truth for EU as over one million people and 100 NGOs call for green, healthy and just recovery
Over one million people and 100 environmental NGOs across Europe are calling on the European Union to restart its economy by launching the biggest green investment plan the world has…
The European Green Deal identifies right areas for action but more urgency needed to meet zero pollution ambition and benefit health
Today, the European Commission presented the European Green Deal plan that sets out many environmental health issues, where the European Union policies such as climate, air or chemicals, can help deliver a zero pollution objective and better health protection for all. However, to achieve the transformational, systemic change needed to address the magnitude of the challenges the world is facing today, the timeline and scope of the European Green Deal will have to better reflect the evidence which clearly makes the case for more urgent action.
Independent data highlights air pollution crisis in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dust pollution in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been twice the legal limit on two thirds of monitored days in 2018 and caused over one hundred premature deaths in adults during the year, according to independent new data published today in the report 'Lifting the Smog' by CEE Bankwatch Network, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Center for Ecology and Energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
