According to the WHO, indoor and outdoor air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk, causing numerable noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, stroke and lung cancer as well as increasing the risk for acute respiratory infections.
HEAL works with global, European, national and local partners and decision-makers to decrease those preventable diseases and to protect those most vulnerable – pregnant women, children, the elderly and those already ill or poor.
Press note: Three points to look out for in this week’s EP ENVI air quality debate
20th March 2023
Health groups asked members of the EP ENVI committee to step up on clean air for health with science-based air quality standards.
Joint letter to ENVI MEPs: Health organisations’ recommendations to step up on clean air for health with science-based air quality standards
17th March 2023
The European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is currently considering the proposal to revise the EU’s ambient air quality directives (AAQD), a cornerstone for the protection of people’s health and the environment from air pollution.
Today, HEAL, together with six more health organisations, has written to members of the committee, urging them tostep up on the European Commission’s proposal, to reduce ill-health and health cost swiftly and significantly.
Letter from Europe’s environmental NGOs on the cars CO2 deal
13th March 2023
HEAL and others have written to German chancellor Scholz and vice-chancellor Habeck with concern regarding the recent political backpedalling and confusion created by the German government that has led to the postponement of the Council vote on the new CO2 standards for cars and vans.
The NGOs have called on them to stand firm and confirm the support of your government for the existing agreement without further delay.
Clean Air for Health, for everyone
5th March 2023
Air pollution is the top environmental threat to health in Europe, leading to around 400,000 premature deaths per year and billions of Euros in health costs...
Gesundheitsverbände fordern stärkere Anstrengungen zur Verbesserung der Luftqualität
23rd February 2023
Die Bundesärztekammer und die Gesundheitsverbände Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) und Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit (KLUG) fordern dringende Maβnahmen, um die unterschätzte Krankheitslast durch Luftverschmutzung und insbesondere Feinstaub zu senken. Bei der aktuellen Überarbeitung der Luftqualitätsgrenzwerte auf EU-Ebene sollte sich die Bundesregierung für die vollständige Angleichung der Grenzwerte mit Empfehlungen der Weltgesundheitsorganisation bis 2030 einsetzen, damit Deutschland und die EU Vorreiter beim Gesundheitsschutz werden.
The ATHLETE project holds its fifth consortium meeting – updates on exposome research and early life exposure
10th February 2023
Around 140 researchers representing 23 different partners from 12 countries gathered in Barcelona, Spain and online for the fifth annual consortium meeting of ATHLETE, an EU-funded project that aims to better understand how our environment can impact human health from pregnancy to adolescence by studying the human exposome.
Toolkit (EN, IT, DE): Advocating for clean air – how to communicate the science
19th July 2022
HEAL has produced a science to policy communications toolkit for fellow NGOs and anyone working on clean air advocacy.
Recommendations from the Turkish health sector on improving air quality
30th June 2022
Turkey is a country with a high burden of disease from air pollution. Poor air…
Health experts demand more attention and action on the public health threat of wood burning in the Western Balkans
27th January 2022
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.
Toolkit on ‘Communicating on air quality and health’
10th October 2018
In spite of the work carried out by the EU institutions, the Member States, many…
HEAL and European Cancer Leagues relaunch infographic illustrating how Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants
25th May 2022
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.
Mental health and cities
13th May 2022
Our new infographic explores the links between cities, climate change, air pollution and mental health…
Healthy Mobility: A new approach to urban space environments
11th May 2022
Across Europe, from East to West, North to South, mayors and local decision-makers have initiated…
The impact of air pollution from transport on children’s health and development
6th May 2022
HEAL Poland has published a new infographic highlighting the fact that children are particularly vulnerable…
Joint letter to ENVI MEPs: Health organisations’ recommendations to step up on clean air for health with science-based air quality standards
17th March 2023
The European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is currently considering the proposal to revise the EU’s ambient air quality directives (AAQD), a cornerstone for the protection of people’s health and the environment from air pollution.
Today, HEAL, together with six more health organisations, has written to members of the committee, urging them tostep up on the European Commission’s proposal, to reduce ill-health and health cost swiftly and significantly.
Letter from Europe’s environmental NGOs on the cars CO2 deal
13th March 2023
HEAL and others have written to German chancellor Scholz and vice-chancellor Habeck with concern regarding the recent political backpedalling and confusion created by the German government that has led to the postponement of the Council vote on the new CO2 standards for cars and vans.
The NGOs have called on them to stand firm and confirm the support of your government for the existing agreement without further delay.
Joint letter to EU environment ministers: Health groups’ recommendations to step up on clean air for health with science-based air quality standards
15th December 2022
HEAL, together with CPME, EFA, AIM, EPHA and Mutualites Libres, has today sent a joint letter to EU environment ministers who are currently considering the proposal to revise the EU’s ambient air quality directives (AAQD), a cornerstone for the protection of people’s health and the environment from air pollution...
Luftqualität: Gesundheit durch neue Standards schützen
28th October 2022
Luftqualität: Gesundheit durch neue Standards schützen Hohe Risiken für akute und chronische Krankheiten durch Feinstaub…
EU leaders: reaffirm Europe’s leadership in clean air policies
20th October 2022
Joint letter by C40, Clean Cities Campaign, European Cyclists' Federation, Transport & Environment and HEAL,…
Letter to European Commission: Civil society vision on how the EU can deliver the European Green Deal and address the multiple crises we face
14th October 2022
The Green 10 wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vice President Frans Timmermans, Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, Commissioners Thierry Breton and Virginijus Sinkevičius to express their concern that the Commission’s Letter of Intent listing priority initiatives for 2023 failed to mention a number of the priority legislative files expected for the European Commission to publish in 2023 based on earlier plans by the European Commission.
Press note: Three points to look out for in this week’s EP ENVI air quality debate
20th March 2023
Health groups asked members of the EP ENVI committee to step up on clean air for health with science-based air quality standards.
Gesundheitsverbände fordern stärkere Anstrengungen zur Verbesserung der Luftqualität
23rd February 2023
Die Bundesärztekammer und die Gesundheitsverbände Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) und Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit (KLUG) fordern dringende Maβnahmen, um die unterschätzte Krankheitslast durch Luftverschmutzung und insbesondere Feinstaub zu senken. Bei der aktuellen Überarbeitung der Luftqualitätsgrenzwerte auf EU-Ebene sollte sich die Bundesregierung für die vollständige Angleichung der Grenzwerte mit Empfehlungen der Weltgesundheitsorganisation bis 2030 einsetzen, damit Deutschland und die EU Vorreiter beim Gesundheitsschutz werden.
Luftqualität: Gesundheit durch neue Standards schützen
28th October 2022
Luftqualität: Gesundheit durch neue Standards schützen Hohe Risiken für akute und chronische Krankheiten durch Feinstaub…
Air pollution law revision can be a game changer for zero-pollution ambition
27th October 2022
Today, the European Commission released the proposed update to the Ambient Air Quality Directives (AAQD),…
Reactions from the health community on the European Commission’s proposal on updating the Ambient Air Quality Directive
26th October 2022
The European Commission’s proposal on the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive fails to address the urgency to act, to swiftly reduce the health burden.
Reactions from the health community:
Leading Western Balkans health experts call on leaders in the region to set ambitious plans for zero air pollution policy
2nd June 2022
Leading health experts working in the Western Balkans, together with the Health and Environment Alliance…
