HEAL advocates for policies to benefit peoples’ health and the environment
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Press contact: Nea Pakarinen nea@env-health.org
The long-neglected health impacts of fossil gas
21st March 2023
While much of the public and political attention has been on coal power generation and its impacts on climate and health, the health threats from burning fossil gas have not been part of the discussion on future-proof energy production and deserve greater attention.
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.
Open Letter to the European Commission: Nanomaterials in everyday products – results from recent testing and concrete measures to inform and protect citizens and ecosystems from nano-related risks
17th March 2023
Seventeen NGOs, including HEAL, wrote a joint letter to the European Commission on nanomaterials in everyday products; results from recent testing and concrete measures to inform and protect citizens and ecosystems from nano-related risks
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.
Over 100 organisations call on the European Commission to fully ban PFAS by 2030
14th March 2023
The EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the draft proposal for an EU-wide restriction on the production and uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), starting a much needed process to restrict these 'forever chemicals'
Mid-term review of the FREIA project: updates and next steps on how novel research is helping identify endocrine disrupting chemicals that harm female reproductive health
14th March 2023
To mark the start of the final stages of FREIA, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has teamed up with the research project to launch a review of its main findings and milestones of research into the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on female reproductive health thus far.
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.
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.
Over 100 organisations call on the European Commission to fully ban PFAS by 2030
14th March 2023
The EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the draft proposal for an EU-wide restriction on the production and uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), starting a much needed process to restrict these 'forever chemicals'
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.
Groundbreaking cross-country media investigation reveals thousands of sites contaminated by PFAS around Europe, adding further urgency to enact EU-wide ban on ‘forever chemicals’
23rd February 2023
An unprecedented cross-country media investigation on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination around Europe - The Forever Pollution Project - reveals that more than 17,000 sites are contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’ around Europe.
Civil society groups demand a highly protective EU restriction on PFAS
7th February 2023
The EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the draft proposal for an EU-wide restriction on the production and uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), starting a much needed process to restrict these 'forever chemicals'
An early coal phase-out in Poland can save lives, improve health and strengthen the economy
31st January 2023
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.
Pesticides and Health Impacts / Pestisitler ve Sağlığa Etkileri
26th January 2023
Pestisitlerin Sağlık Etkileri konusunda Türkiye sağlık sektöründen öneriler
Open Letter to the European Commission: Nanomaterials in everyday products – results from recent testing and concrete measures to inform and protect citizens and ecosystems from nano-related risks
17th March 2023
Seventeen NGOs, including HEAL, wrote a joint letter to the European Commission on nanomaterials in everyday products; results from recent testing and concrete measures to inform and protect citizens and ecosystems from nano-related risks
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 Executive Vice-President Vestager on Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework
1st March 2023
ClientEarth, CAN Europe, CEE Bankwatch, E3G and HEAL have sent a joint letter to Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager concerning the leaked draft Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (“TCTF”) and our concerns by the direction taken.
Joint letter to the REACH Committee: Restriction of Intentionally-added Microplastics, and Chemical Authorisation Concerns
23rd February 2023
Seventeen NGOs, including HEAL, wrote a joint letter to the REACH Committee ahead of their meeting on March 1st 2023, to urge the Committee to support a restriction that would include all microplastics, and to address other chemical authorisation concerns.
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...
There is no “safe level” of air pollution
18th October 2021
Health groups call on the leaders of the Western Balkan countries to harmonize national air quality standards with the World Health Organization Global air quality guidelines. Health experts should be actively involved in these decision-making processes to ensure the timely integration of public health measures into environmental policies. Compliance with WHO recommendations brings multiple benefits – reduced incidence of chronic diseases and premature deaths, reduced overall health costs and, most importantly, better health and higher productivity of people.
A tale of disruption: looking back at one decade of Europe’s (unkept) promises to address endocrine disrupting pesticides
29th July 2021
By using the example of the ongoing assessments of five substances that have long been suspected to disrupt our thyroid function, HEAL's Natacha Cingotti and Angeliki Lyssimachou illustrate the extremely slow pace of and the related weakness in the implementation of Europe’s promises to protect people, animals and wildlife from effects associated to exposure to endocrine disruptors.
Announcement of Belchatow coal plant closure is turning point for health
10th June 2021
Therefore, the Belchatow closure announcement is a milestone for better health protection for the people in Poland and beyond, and shows that there is a growing recognition that coal cannot have a place in a healthy energy future for Poland, or elsewhere.
At the same time, there’s no reason for leaning back, as we have not reached our goal of a coal phase out in the EU by 2030 yet - a date that is scientifically proven to be needed to slow down the climate crisis.
Beat pollution today to prevent disease tomorrow – for everyone
4th June 2021
By Genon K. Jensen, HEAL’s Executive Director Adapted from speech given at high level event…
Greater health engagement and commitment needed to clean up the air in Serbia
14th May 2021
The launch of the first ever national Air protection Program in the Republic of Serbia…
Turning the plastic tide: how upgraded chemicals regulations are piece and parcel of addressing the plastics challenge
21st October 2020
Taking on the plastics challenge in a way that puts health and the environment first to deliver on Europe’s Zero Pollution ambition requires upgrading European regulations on chemicals and articles in which they are used, encompassing the entire lifecycle of plastics.
Webinar: Prenatal exposure to phthalates, bisphenol, and organophosphate pesticide mixtures and fetal growth
16th November 2022
6 December 2022, 16:00 - 16:45 CEST Click here to watch the recording of the…