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.
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:
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.
100+ organisations call for stricter, WHO aligned EU air pollution limits
22nd September 2022
Exactly one year after the World Health Organization (WHO), after a systematic review of the science, published new Global Air Quality Guidelines with recommendations for maximum concentrations of the major air pollutants, more than 100 organisations in 17 EU countries have called on their health and environment ministers to save lives and protect nature from air pollution with science-based EU air quality standards.
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…
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.
100+ organisations call for stricter, WHO aligned EU air pollution limits
22nd September 2022
Exactly one year after the World Health Organization (WHO), after a systematic review of the science, published new Global Air Quality Guidelines with recommendations for maximum concentrations of the major air pollutants, more than 100 organisations in 17 EU countries have called on their health and environment ministers to save lives and protect nature from air pollution with science-based EU air quality standards.
Letter to MEPs: Wood burning harms our health and fuels climate change
7th September 2022
HEAL, together with the German Alliance on Climate Change and Health (KLUG e.V.), the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), the German Public Health Association (DGPH) and KlimaDocs e.V. has today sent a letter to Members of European Parliament calling on them to stop classifying wood as a renewable energy source in RED III and to end subsidies for wood as an energy source.
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
27th April 2022
On 22 March, HEAL, together with 35+ medical, health, environmental, public health civil society organisations has sent…
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…
European Parliament recognises the European Green Deal as a significant contributing factor to cancer prevention in Europe
17th February 2022
The European Parliament has adopted its non-legislative report responding to the publication of the EU Commission 2021 communication on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, recognising the EU Green Deal is a key tool to limit people’s exposure to pollution and prevent cancer.
Health groups call for EU air quality standards to be fully aligned with new WHO recommendations
22nd September 2021
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.
