Climate change threatens the basic elements of life such as access to clean air, water, food and shelter – and with that human health. But climate action could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.
HEAL works with Global organisations like UNFCCC, UNEP and WHO, with European and national decision-makers as well as environmental organisations towards climate and energy policies putting human health at the centre of their priorities.
Press note – Health groups urge to address burden of pollution in EU long-term budget deliberations
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.
Letter to EC President Von der Leyen calling to uphold climate, nature and public health priorities in the next EU budget
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.
Letter to MEPs: Pollution and health – 7 May plenary vote on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world
HEAL has sent a letter to MEPs, regarding their upcoming vote on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.
HEAL position paper on the next EU budget 2028-2034
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.
Soaring costs and health burden of climate inaction
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.
Letter to EP BUDG committee on A revamped Long-term Budget for the Union in a Changing World
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.
New briefing: External costs of climate change and air pollution in Poland
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.
Health sector awareness and engagement on climate across Europe
This new briefing prepared as part of the EU-funded CISIP project aims to shed light on why “health” is at the heart of climate change and present some of the milestones of health sector engagement on climate.
New briefing on Mental Health and Climate Change Briefing in Collaboration with the Turkish Psychiatric Association
Civil society organisations and health experts, as part of the Health Collaboration on Climate Change…
Health benefits of a Green Deal approach in Turkey
A new briefing by HEAL (in English and in Turkish), as part of the EU funded CISIP project, underlines the many health benefits that could be gained if Turkish decision-makers implemented stronger Green Deal action. Turkey’s Green Deal Action Plan, launched in 2021, sets 32 objectives and 81 actions, including on a Green and Circular Economy, secure energy supply and sustainable agriculture. However, contrary to the EU Green Deal which was adopted in 2019, the Turkish plan doesn’t set any tangible targets or deadlines.
The myth of “clean coal”: why coal power generation is always unhealthy / “Temiz kömür” efsanesi: neden kömürden enerji üretmek her koşulda sağlıksızdır
A new HEAL analysis shows that even coal power plants using the latest filter technology would still create significant (and avoidable) health impacts and costs in Turkey. This analysis adds to the body of evidence on the health burden from coal power generation and underlines that in order to protect health, Turkey should set a coal phase out date of 2030, and shelve all coal plants remaining in the pipeline.
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.
New infographic on the health and climate threat from wood burning
A new infographic entitled “Wood burning: a false solution fuelling the climate crisis and harming…
Infographic: Health benefits of a Green Deal (TR)
A new infographic on the health benefits of a Green Deal has been created in…
Infographic: Mental Health and Climate Change (TR)
A new infographic on mental health and climate change has been created in the frame…
Infographic: health sector calls for climate action
New infographic on health sector engagement for climate action, as health protection: Download the full…
Letter to EC President Von der Leyen calling to uphold climate, nature and public health priorities in the next EU budget
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.
Letter to MEPs: Pollution and health – 7 May plenary vote on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world
HEAL has sent a letter to MEPs, regarding their upcoming vote on A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.
Letter to EP BUDG committee on A revamped Long-term Budget for the Union in a Changing World
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.
Letter to EP FEMM committee ahead of vote 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.
The next EU budget: Strengthening financing for zero pollution, climate resilience and disease prevention
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.
Strengthening Polish climate and energy transformation efforts for better health
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.
Press note – Health groups urge to address burden of pollution in EU long-term budget deliberations
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.
Press note: Health should remain in the scope of the ENVI committee
Press note: HEAL calls on the European Parliament to maintain health within the scope of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
Press note: 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Europe
Press note: The Lancet Europe Countdown report on health and climate change 2024 indicates European governments have not successfully protected their citizens from the health impacts of climate change.
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.
Curing Chronic Coal: The health benefits of a 2030 coal phase out in Turkey
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) now highlights that phasing out…
An early coal phase-out in the Western Balkan can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), published today, shows that phasing out…
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.
Curing Chronic Coal: The health benefits of a 2030 coal phase out in Turkey
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) now highlights that phasing out…
An early coal phase-out in the Western Balkan can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), published today, shows that phasing out…
