Health & Environment Alliance, www.env-health.org

From dissemination to policy making

20 years of NGO involvement in Environment and Health in

Europe

Second joint European Public Health Conference25-28 November 2009, Lodz, Poland

Genon K. Jensen, Executive DirectorHealth and Environment Alliance (HEAL) Monika Kosinski, Executive Committee

Presentation overview

1. Environment and health agendaCreating public support for more protective environmental policies.

2. About the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)Better health through a better environment

3. Increasing capacity of NGOs Bridging the science-policy gap.4. The role of EUPHA members

Harnessing expertise from health community and strengthening public health perspective in

environmental policies.

HEAL: Who we are, What we do

An European umbrella platform with +60 member organisations in 22 countries

Monitor environmental health concerns/evidence. Advocate for health to be at the centre of EU (and

other governmental) environmental policies

Increase health community’s understanding and participation in EU and national decision-making processes

Ensure communication of new science to policy makers

The environment and health agenda

Creating public support for protective environmental policies and the sustainable development agenda

1. Improved public participation of health community

2. Increased policy coherency between health and environment

3. Captured the imagination of the public

The environment and health agenda

• 1980s• WHO “European Charter on Environment and Health” –

NGOs to “disseminate information to the public”

• 1990s• 89% Europeans worried about how environment affects

health

• European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) formed

• European Commission adopts health “competence”

• WHO invited EPHA to present NGO priorities at first European Conference on E&H in London

• 2000s• DG Environment launches discussions on E&H plan• EPHA Environment Network formed as separate entity• EEN renamed Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)

Today, environment and health is a recognised theme at European level

Processes that HEAL is involved in: • EU European Environment and Health Action Plan

2004- 2010

• WHO Environment and Health ProcessHEAL sits on the EEHC Steering Group

• 1999 (London)• 2004 (Budapest)• 2007 (Vienna)• 2010 (Parma)

The environment and health agenda

HEAL brings NGO priorities and best practice examples

Increasing capacity of NGOs

• 20 years ago - NGOs were just starting to embrace the environmental health agenda.

• Today’s NGOs - translating science to policy• Growing in number• Diversity of areas• Connecting bodies:

Policy opportunities

Policy makersResearchers Environmentalists Health groups

Creating better health through strong environmental policy

Examples of HEAL work this year:

• Climate change and health

Pushing for a health friendly climate change deal• EU Cancer Plan

Achieving “environmental prevention”

What does HEAL do?

Climate and health work

• Prescription for a Healthy PlanetA global campaign - increasing focus on the health effects of climate change by uniting the international health communitywww.climateandhealthcare.com

• Provide evidence for health friendly policy change

• Transport• Building• Power

Work on the EU Cancer Plan Achieving environmental prevention

• Workshop on cancer and the environment• Specialist e-working group • Active consultative role in EU cancer

partnership• EUPHA section on Environment

related diseases 

Harnessing expertise of the health community

– and strengthening the public health perspective in environmental policies.

• Highlighting research findings for policy areas

• Providing expertise on HEAL policy papers – a respected voice

• Using HEAL work within your research and health promotion activity

Working with EUPHA

EUPHA members and HEAL

Combining your work with ours- increasing your specialist input to EU policy

• HEAL monthly e-news and policy updates• Become a HEAL member• Join our specialist e-working groups• Read our “Primer” on European E&H• Sign up to “Prescription for a healthy planet”• Provide Scientific expertise in HEAL media

activities

Thank you for your attention

Any Questions?

For information on the Health and Environment Alliance:

www.env-health.org

Genon JesenHealth & Environment Alliance

Tel: +32 2 234 3640E-mail:genon@env-health.org