HEAL advocates for policies to benefit peoples’ health and the environment
Stay up to date, read HEAL’s latest news, press releases, letters, briefings, policy papers, scientific statements and many other publications.
Press contact: Elke Zander elke@env-health.org
Environment Ministers have to show commitment to EU action on air quality in 2020
17th February 2020
In the upcoming Council Conclusions on Air Quality, we call on Environment Ministers to:
Reflect the urgency to act on air pollution for health protection: the positive effects of this Green Deal need to be breathable by the end of the current EU Commission’ mandate.
Translate the urgency into action by paving the way forward: the EU Green Deal ambition needs to take the shape of clear steps for clean air in 2020, with a view to aligning the EU air standards with the WHO guidelines.
MEPs block EU Commission proposal that would allow toxic lead in recycled PVC
12th February 2020
Members of the European Parliament today objected to a European Commission proposal to allow lead-contaminated recycled PVC to be sold in the EU. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) have applauded MEPs for using their power of scrutiny in order to ask the European Commission to walk the talk and keep toxics out of the circular economy, a promise outlined in the European Green Deal.
The “forever chemicals” that are harming our health: PFAS
4th February 2020
You may not recognize the name PFAS, short for per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, yet it is likely you come in contact with this toxic chemical on a daily basis. From frying pans and cosmetics to paper food packaging and clothing, PFAS is a class of more than 4,700 widely-used, man-made chemicals. And they are putting our health and the environment at serious risk.
Forever chemicals no more: Belgian premiere of Hollywood movie “Dark Waters” highlights reality of PFAS pollution and the urgency to address it through ambitious regulation
3rd February 2020
Award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo and director Todd Haynes are visiting the European Parliament this Wednesday (5 February) to present the film ‘Dark Waters’, inspired by the true story of an environmental attorney who took on the DuPont company in an environmental suit exposing decades of pollution of drinking water with PFAS. The movie shows the harsh consequences of chemicals pollution, which is a reality in the EU too, and should urgently be addressed as a chemical priority under the European Green Deal.
Environmental health groups celebrate end to EU allowance for banned flame retardant chemicals to enter recycling streams & new products
24th January 2020
The European Union (EU) just took an important step towards cleaning up its recycling; it will no longer allow materials containing a class of toxic and globally banned flame retardants - known as PBDEs - to be recycled.
Environmental health priorities for Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union
17th January 2020
Croatia holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2020. In a letter to Croatia's prime minister Andrej Plenkovic, HEAL shared its priorities on how we consider the Presidency can help advance the protection of health from environment and climate threats in the next months, particularly regarding the EU Green Deal proposal.
Why HEAL supports the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save Bees and Farmers”
17th January 2020
HEAL is a supporting organisation of the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save Bees and Farmers”, that launched in November 2019 with a vision of a pesticide-free Europe.
Take a few minutes to sign the petition, available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish!
MEPs block EU Commission proposal that would allow toxic lead in recycled PVC
12th February 2020
Members of the European Parliament today objected to a European Commission proposal to allow lead-contaminated recycled PVC to be sold in the EU. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) have applauded MEPs for using their power of scrutiny in order to ask the European Commission to walk the talk and keep toxics out of the circular economy, a promise outlined in the European Green Deal.
Forever chemicals no more: Belgian premiere of Hollywood movie “Dark Waters” highlights reality of PFAS pollution and the urgency to address it through ambitious regulation
3rd February 2020
Award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo and director Todd Haynes are visiting the European Parliament this Wednesday (5 February) to present the film ‘Dark Waters’, inspired by the true story of an environmental attorney who took on the DuPont company in an environmental suit exposing decades of pollution of drinking water with PFAS. The movie shows the harsh consequences of chemicals pollution, which is a reality in the EU too, and should urgently be addressed as a chemical priority under the European Green Deal.
Environmental health groups celebrate end to EU allowance for banned flame retardant chemicals to enter recycling streams & new products
24th January 2020
The European Union (EU) just took an important step towards cleaning up its recycling; it will no longer allow materials containing a class of toxic and globally banned flame retardants - known as PBDEs - to be recycled.
Transition to a toxic-free circular economy in the carpet industry still a distant reality, despite industry initiative
16th January 2020
Transition to a toxic-free circular economy in the carpet industry still a distant reality, despite…
Another “forever chemical” – PFBS – added to Europe’s list of substances of very high concern
20th December 2019
The European Chemicals Agency has recognised Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid, PFBS (and its salts) as a…
The European Green Deal identifies right areas for action but more urgency needed to meet zero pollution ambition and benefit health
11th December 2019
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.
A victory for future generations – European governments ban brain-harming pesticides chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl
6th December 2019
Representatives from the European Member States in the EU Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF) today voted to ban the neurotoxic pesticides chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl from the EU market, a historic move that has been applauded by health and environment groups.
Environment Ministers have to show commitment to EU action on air quality in 2020
17th February 2020
In the upcoming Council Conclusions on Air Quality, we call on Environment Ministers to:
Reflect the urgency to act on air pollution for health protection: the positive effects of this Green Deal need to be breathable by the end of the current EU Commission’ mandate.
Translate the urgency into action by paving the way forward: the EU Green Deal ambition needs to take the shape of clear steps for clean air in 2020, with a view to aligning the EU air standards with the WHO guidelines.
Environmental health priorities for Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union
17th January 2020
Croatia holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2020. In a letter to Croatia's prime minister Andrej Plenkovic, HEAL shared its priorities on how we consider the Presidency can help advance the protection of health from environment and climate threats in the next months, particularly regarding the EU Green Deal proposal.
Joint letter calling concrete clean air steps in European Commission’s 2020 Work Programme
14th January 2020
HEAL, together with 7 other health and environmental civil society organisations has today sent a…
Open letter on the Farm to Fork strategy to achieve sustainable food systems
12th December 2019
People in the EU have made unprecedented calls for change throughout 2019, demanding climate action,…
A European Green Deal that strives for a healthy planet for healthy people is putting zero pollution and health protection at its core
4th December 2019
HEAL together with members called on the European College of Commissioners and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to translate the support they have expressed for environmental health protection during their parliamentary hearings into tangible and impactful policy proposals and legislation. Zero pollution and health protection need to be at the core of the Commission’s flagship European Green Deal. It is essential that the European Green Deal delivers on climate change, on clean air and on health protection from hazardous chemicals, including endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Stepping up Dutch climate action for a healthy future for our children
19th December 2019
The swift closing of the 3 additional coal power plants would not only deliver the missing 9 Mt of emission cuts the Netherlands still needs to additionally reduce for the year 2020, they would also deliver very tangible and immediate benefits to health, by reducing health costs of up to 263,273 Euros, and preventing over 25,000 lost working days due to illness annually. Nearly 1,500 asthma attacks by children would also be prevented.
The government has been appealing the Urgenda verdict for 4 years - it should recognise that accepting and executing it will be a blessing. For this week, I am looking to our Parliament and our government to reconfirm a commitment to a swift and urgent coal phase out before 2030 and the pathway to it - for decisive climate and clean air action, and the substantial benefit for our children in the short and long term.
Climate action for our health and planetary health
2nd December 2019
by Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director at HEAL We hope that world leaders meeting in…
There is only one way to protect children from the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos: an EU-wide ban
8th October 2019
The widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos can seriously harm children’s healthy brain development. It will be for the next European Commission and European governments to deliver the one obvious solution: a complete ban of chlorpyrifos, to protect health and the environment.
Why regulation is the key to protecting today’s and future children from toxic plastic toys
3rd October 2019
by Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director at HEAL It’s encouraging to see that plastic pollution…
The climate emergency is a medical one – health sector issues prescription for a healthy energy future
24th September 2019
Today, HEAL launches the Prescription for a Healthy Energy Future for Europe, to shine a light on the health benefits the transformation of the energy sector will bring, and bring to the forefront those areas where change is urgently needed. We will eventually include transport and food production as well.
Billige Kohle kommt der Gesundheit teuer zu stehen
28th December 2018
Dass Kohle schlecht fürs Klima ist, wissen die meisten. Weniger bekannt sind die Gesundheitsbelastungen durch die Kohleverstromung. Ein neues Briefing der Health and Environment Alliance beleuchtet die gesundheitlichen Folgen der Braunkohlenutzung und plädiert für einen schnellen Ausstieg.
