Health Impact of Climate Change Recognised in European Parliament Resolution

Brussels — In a plenary vote on its Resolution on Climate Change, the European Parliament has today recognised the need to consider public health, as well as the co- benefits of emission reductions to global health.(1)

Two leading European health advocacy organisations, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) welcome the amendments. HEAL, HCWH and six other health organisations (2) wrote to Members of the European Parliament on 23 November to encourage them to support the health-friendly amendments (See below). Two amendments tabled by the ALDE Group, and one amendment tabled by Greens/EFA were accepted.

The urgent call to include health more centrally in climate negotiations is being voiced by the health community around the world. In London and Washington today, the influential health publication The Lancet is launching its “Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions” report. (3)

HCWH and HEAL have launched "The Prescription for a Healthy Planet" to draw attention to the impact of climate change on health, and to show how tackling climate change can be good for people’s health. The Prescription has been endorsed by leading health, medical and nursing groups around the world which represent millions of health professionals in more than 120 countries. Groups that have signed up include the Standing Committee of European Doctors, which represents medical associations in each of the 27 countries of the European Union, European Public Health Alliance, European Respiratory Society, American Public Health Association, World Federation of Public Health Associations, and International Council of Nurses amongst many others. (4)

During the international climate talks in Barcelona earlier this month, the UNFCCC negotiating team chose to explicitly recognise the need to include health protection in its draft. Amendments were also considered to highlight the health benefits of strict emission targets. (5)

Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL says the amendments to the Resolution represent an important turning point. "With today’s vote, the European Parliament is acknowledging the increasing evidence and concern from the health and medical community on how climate change may be hazardous to people’s health. We hope that EU leaders will take this health message to Copenhagen to underline the necessity of an ambitious treaty. After all, what is good for climate is good for health," she says. (6)

Anja Leetz, who leads HCWH in Europe says: "Strong targets on emission reductions bring clear benefits for public health and reduce the costs of health care services in Europe and globally." (7)

HCWH and HEAL will bring a high level international medical and health delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. Daily briefings will be organised on the negotiations from a public health perspective.

References

1. European Parliament Resolution on Climate Change, see http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-0141/2009&language=EN
2. See letter http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/Letter_EP_Plenary_Vote_COP15_23.11.09.pdf
3. “The Lancet Series on Health and Climate Change: Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/stellent/groups/corporatesite/ @policy_communications/documents/web_document/wtx057673.pdf
4. (4) Prescription for a Healthy Planet Website at http://www.climateandhealthcare.org/
5. See letter from HEAL/HCWH/CHC on Barcelona negotiations: http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/HCWH_HEAL_CHC_Recomendations_to_ UNFCCC_negotiators_for_Barcelona.pdf
6. Research by HEAL and others last year shows that savings on health costs achieved from a target of 30% rather than 20% in Europe may reach 25 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards. See "The co-benefit to health of a strong EU climate change policy" published by HEAL, WWF and Climate Action Network Europe in December 2008 at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/Co-benefits_to_health_report_-september_2008.pdf
7. Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing climate change in health care settings, World Health Organization and Health Care Without Harm is available at http://www.noharm.org/europe/reports/2009/may/rep2009-05-07.php

Contacts

• Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/europe Mobile phone: +49 175 732 0657
• Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732 Website: www.env-health.org

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of more than 500 organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. Visit the HCWH website for more information.