The story of the Sambhavna Clinic, a non-profit holistic health clinic in Bhopal, India, built to treat those injured by the Union Carbide toxic gas release in 1984. enlarge video
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Climate: ENVI Committee Vote Cheered By Two Major Health Groups
Brussels — The combined voices of Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), the two leading health and environment groups working at the European level, have voiced their strong approval following the ENVI Committee vote today in support for a 30% EU reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.1
"This vote paves the way for strong climate policies in the EU that will protect public health."
Senior Policy Advisor
HCWH Europe.
HEAL and HCWH Europe released a report in 2010 showing the huge public health benefits of moving to a 30% GHG emissions reduction target.2 These include reductions in premature death and illness, fewer working days lost and lower healthcare costs.
"This vote paves the way for strong climate policies in the EU that will protect public health," says Dr. Pendo Maro, Senior Policy Advisor, HCWH/HEAL Europe.
"Our report shows that the health benefits of fewer air pollutants associated with reaching a 30% target are up to 30.5 EUR billion per year by 2020 - this represents two-thirds of the European Commission's estimate of the costs involved in moving to the 30% target."
"This vote reflects a step away from the previous "cost" perspective and towards a win-win focus on the colossal benefits for public health, innovation and productivity of action to mitigate climate change," she adds.
HEAL and HCWH Europe released a report in 2010 showing the huge public health benefits of moving to a 30% GHG emissions reduction target.2 These include reductions in premature death and illness, fewer working days lost and lower healthcare costs.
"This vote paves the way for strong climate policies in the EU that will protect public health," says Dr. Pendo Maro, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL/HCWH Europe.
"Our report shows that the health benefits of fewer air pollutants associated with reaching a 30% target are up to 30.5 EUR billion per year by 2020 - this represents two-thirds of the European Commission's estimate of the costs involved in moving to the 30% target."
"This vote reflects a step away from the previous "cost" perspective and towards a win-win focus on the colossal benefits for public health, innovation and productivity of action to mitigate climate change," she adds.
Contacts
- Dr. Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe; Health and Environment Alliance; Postal Address: Rue de la Pepiniere 1, B-1000 Brussels Tel.: +32 2503 4911 Fax: + 32 2402 3042 Mobile: +32 495 281 494. E-mail: pendo.maro@hcwh.org
- Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@env-health.org
Notes
- 1: The vote was on the Eickhout report and is consistent with previous ENVI and Parliament resolutions.
- 2: Acting NOW for better health, A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy, 2010.
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.
