HEAL advocates for policies to benefit peoples’ health and the environment
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Press contact: Nea Pakarinen nea@env-health.org
Highlighting the health risks of climate change and adaptation needs
23rd May 2023
On 26 May, the EU funded research project ENBEL (Enhancing Belmont Research Action to support EU policy making on climate change and health), of which HEAL is a partner, organises an event entitled Novel climate change and health research.
Health benefits of a Green Deal approach in Turkey
17th May 2023
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.
Health threats of short-term winter smog in Poland
16th May 2023
Today, HEAL Poland has published an analysis of particulate matter air pollution in Poland during…
The chemicals restriction roadmap: are we there yet?
15th May 2023
The chemicals restriction roadmap is EU's interim plan for regulatory action, compiling a list of the most hazardous chemicals prioritised for phase out until a more comprehensive, health-protective REACH reform is fully realised. But despite optimistic estimates the restriction roadmap has thus far been a painfully slow trek uphill.
The real-life impact of PFAS pollution on communities – examples from Veneto, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Ronneby and Korsør and how to take action
10th May 2023
A new website by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) sheds light on five cases of PFAS pollution affecting communities across Europe and provides resources for concerned citizens and health professionals to take action.
Letter to MEPs: Advancing on the implementation of the Farm to Fork strategy for better health and long-term benefits for farmers and everyone
9th May 2023
Ahead of a debate on the role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector, HEAL urges members of the European Parliament to support the implementation of the Farm to Fork strategy and to adopt a strong health-protective Pesticides Regulation (SUR).
The real-life impact of PFAS pollution on communities – examples from Veneto, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Ronneby and Korsør and how to take action
10th May 2023
A new website by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) sheds light on five cases of PFAS pollution affecting communities across Europe and provides resources for concerned citizens and health professionals to take action.
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.
Letter to MEPs: Advancing on the implementation of the Farm to Fork strategy for better health and long-term benefits for farmers and everyone
9th May 2023
Ahead of a debate on the role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector, HEAL urges members of the European Parliament to support the implementation of the Farm to Fork strategy and to adopt a strong health-protective Pesticides Regulation (SUR).
Lettre ouverte : Il faut une publication de la révision de REACH sans plus de retards
18th April 2023
Des ONG françaises et européennes écrivent ce jour à Elisabeth Borne pour l’inciter à air…
Green 10 letter to Commissioner Breton on boosting the green transition of the EU’s industry and upholding environmental and health safeguards
17th April 2023
The Green 10 have sent a letter to Commissioner Breton, following a recent meeting of the group with him on boosting the green transition of the EU’s industry and upholding environmental and health safeguards - the letter focuses on the need to kickstart the revision of REACH, the EU chemicals regulatory framework, by June 2023, as well as Net Zero Industry and Critical Raw Materials Acts, where the Commission has to set clear conditions to respect climate, wider environmental, and social objectives.
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.
Tribune collectif: La réglementation européenne sur les substances chimiques doit être révisée d’urgence
18th April 2023
Alors qu’une consultation publique visant à restreindre l’usage des « polluants éternels » a été lancée le 22 mars, des mutuelles et des organisations spécialisées en santé environnementale rappellent, dans une tribune au « Le Monde », l’urgence d’une actualisation ambitieuse du règlement européen sur les substances chimiques.
Europe’s raw materials rush does not justify keeping workers in the dark about lithium’s dangers
29th March 2023
The increasing reliance on lithium compounds in critical sectors should be reason enough for European authorities to support a thorough investigation of their properties. They also demand a speedy agreement on how to communicate about them to workers and end-users. But instead, a scientifically-backed proposal to classify three lithium salts for their toxicity to reproduction under Europe’s harmonised hazard identification system is at a dead end.
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…