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.
New research on energy poverty: majority of EU countries unable to keep citizens warm over winter
Energy poverty is a matter of life and death for many Europeans according to new research published today by the European Right to Energy coalition, with expert input provided by HEAL, which reveals a majority of EU countries have significant levels of energy poverty.
Press release: EU action on Western Balkans’ chronic coal pollution is a unique opportunity to improve health and productivity
Sixteen outdated coal power plants in the Western Balkans are a public health and economic liability for the whole of Europe, with people in the EU bearing the majority of the health impacts and costs, according to a new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Sandbag, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network and Europe Beyond Coal. The European Union (EU) needs to use all of the tools available to improve health, prolong lives, save health costs and increase productivity both in the EU and in the Western Balkan region.
Step forward for health protection in Turkey: Proposal to extend the pollution exemptions given to privatised coal power plants withdrawn
Last night, 14 February, all political parties in the Turkish Parliament agreed to withdraw a proposal on granting exemptions from environmental investments including filtration systems, flue gas facilities and ash…
Invite: press briefing on new report – ‘Chronic Coal Pollution – EU Action on the Western Balkans will improve health and economies across Europe’
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and CEE Bankwatch invite you to a press briefing on the latest analysis of the health and economic costs…
Turkish Parliament will vote about polluting coal power plants next week
Incentives and pollution exemptions given to the privatised coal power plants can be extended until 2021, threatening health The Turkish government has already vowed to increase its coal-fired power generation…
Coal phase out for health overdue
A new briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (also available in German and and Turkish) demonstrates that 50% of the global lignite mining and use is taking place in Europe. Lignite coal – also called brown coal – is a form of coal that is highly inefficient and polluting. Assessing lignite and hard coal over their life cycles shows that lignite is the most health harming form of coal and should be abolished as soon as possible.
Gesundheitsexperten fordern stärkere Anstrengung der Bundesregierung für den Klimaschutz
Lancet-Countdown: Die Gesundheit von weltweit Millionen Menschen wird durch Hitzestress als Folge der Erderwärmung aufs Spiel gesetzt Berlin, Brüssel, 29. November 2018 – Neue Forschungsergebnisse, die in der renommierten Fachzeitschrift The…
Health groups call for greater EU leadership in tackling climate change
New research published in The Lancet medical journal today shows that emissions, climate change and rising temperatures are already exposing people everywhere to an unacceptably high health risk. The independent, interdisciplinary research collaboration Lancet Countdown identified that last year globally, 157 million more vulnerable people were subjected to a heatwave than in 2000.
Health groups call for phasing out of diesel cars as a public health imperative
Dieselgate has put the high health impacts from polluting diesel cars into the public and policy-makers’ spotlight. On the occasion of a high-level debate in the European Parliament on the…
Swept under the rug: new report reveals toxics in European carpets threatening health, environment and circular economy
Toxic substances linked to a range of adverse health impacts can be present in carpets sold in the European Union (EU), the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) warned today following a new study by Anthesis.
Health professionals demand clean air for Tuzla and Lukavac in Bosnia
Doctors and health groups have issued an urgent call to improve air quality in Tuzla and Lukavac (Bosnia and Herzegovina), joining the global Unmask My City campaign for clean air, and inviting doctors region wide to join.
New toolkit puts spotlight on coal and health in three Turkish cities
Massive investments into new coal power generation are being planned in Turkey, worsening an already poor air quality situation and threatening people’s health. A new HEAL toolkit puts the spotlight on the three ‘coal hotspot’ cities of Terkidag, Canakkale and Izmir.
Reducing air pollution from coal power plants in the Western Balkans would save thousands of lives annually
Swift and significant emission cuts by Europe’s top polluters under new rules would boost health and reduce healthcare costs.
