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
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.
New video explains why Europe needs to stop health-harming pesticide trade
15th October 2021
A new video published today by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), with support from HEAL, PAN Europe, PAN Germany, Public Eye, Global 2000 and foodwatch, explains how harmful pesticides that are banned in the EU are still being produced and exported to other parts of the world.
High level panel: Why urgent action on the EU’s Zero Pollution ambition matters for health – voices from communities and vulnerable groups
13th October 2021
POSTPONED Virtual, public event - moderated by Tamsin Rose. Tuesday, 19 October 2021, 14.00 –…
Glyphosate: 41 health and environment groups urge EU Commission to put an end to use of unreliable industry studies
13th October 2021
41 civil society organisations, including several of the organisers of the successful European Citizens’ Initiative #StopGlyphosate, urge EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to guarantee that the ongoing assessment of glyphosate is based on updated independent scientific evidence and remains free from vested interests.
COP26 – a make or break opportunity for climate action and health
12th October 2021
The climate crisis is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Health professionals and health workers recognize their ethical obligation to speak out about this rapidly growing crisis that could be far more catastrophic and enduring than the COVID-19 pandemic: they urge governments to live up to their responsibilities by protecting their citizens, neighbours, and future generations from the climate crisis.
The Commission must live up to its European Green Deal promise and stop subsidies to fossil fuel companies, experts warn
8th October 2021
European climate, environmental and health NGOs have sent an open letter to the European Commission…
Glyphosate: 41 health and environment groups urge EU Commission to put an end to use of unreliable industry studies
13th October 2021
41 civil society organisations, including several of the organisers of the successful European Citizens’ Initiative #StopGlyphosate, urge EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to guarantee that the ongoing assessment of glyphosate is based on updated independent scientific evidence and remains free from vested interests.
The Commission must live up to its European Green Deal promise and stop subsidies to fossil fuel companies, experts warn
8th October 2021
European climate, environmental and health NGOs have sent an open letter to the European Commission…
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.
NGOs to refuse invitations to speak at fossil-fuel sponsored media events
2nd September 2021
Sixteen leading European civil society organisations [1] have announced they will no longer accept invitations…
Bundesregierung verpasst Chance, tausende vorzeitige Todesfälle aufgrund von Luftverschmutzung aus Kohlekraftwerken zu verhindern
16th August 2021
Bundesregierung legt unambitionierte Grenzwerte für Kohlekraftwerke fest, die zu über 18.000 vorzeitigen Todesfällen führen werden.…
Revealed: EU Glyphosate assessment was based on flawed science
3rd July 2021
A new scientific analysis concludes that the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) claim that glyphosate is not genotoxic cannot be justified on the basis of manufacturers’ studies. Of the 53 industry-funded studies used for the EU’s current authorization of glyphosate, 34 were identified as "not reliable", 17 as "partly reliable" and only 2 studies as "reliable" from a methodological point of view.
Letter: Gouvernance et moyens de la Stratégie Nationale sur les Perturbateurs Endocriniens (SNPE)
25th June 2021
À l’occasion de la réunion du Groupe Santé Environnement (GSE) le 30 juin 2021, un…
Glyphosate: 41 health and environment groups urge EU Commission to put an end to use of unreliable industry studies
13th October 2021
41 civil society organisations, including several of the organisers of the successful European Citizens’ Initiative #StopGlyphosate, urge EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to guarantee that the ongoing assessment of glyphosate is based on updated independent scientific evidence and remains free from vested interests.
The Commission must live up to its European Green Deal promise and stop subsidies to fossil fuel companies, experts warn
8th October 2021
European climate, environmental and health NGOs have sent an open letter to the European Commission…
Letter: Call for the Health Ministry to get engaged on clean air and support evidence-based air quality standards
1st October 2021
HEAL has sent a letter to EU-27 health ministries to call on them to get engaged…
Letter to Mayors: Regional Just Transition plans need to place health protection at the center
29th September 2021
On the occasion of the 4th Forum of Mayors on Just Transition which will focus on…
Letter: Health and environment groups call on EU governments to identify Resorcinol as a substance of very high concern
6th September 2021
Eight health and environment groups across Europe are calling on EU ministers to identify Resorcinol, a health-harming endocrine disruptor, as a substance of very high concern.
Joint letter: Territorial Just Transition Plans assessed against WWF Just Transition principles
3rd September 2021
WWF and nine other organisations have written to the European Commission to urge Territorial Just Transition…
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.
