Brussels in August is unusually empty, as EU Commission and EU Parliament as well as most lobbyist are taking a break before the next session in September starts. Time for HCWH Europe to look back to the first six months of our work. Our main focus of work is still energy and climate. We have been advocating at meetings and with letters to politicians that Europe needs to cut green house gases (GHG) by at least by 30%, even though 40% is what is really needed according to scientist. As you may know Europe has promised to cut GHG by 20% and this will have to be achieved by cuts in all sectors, including the health sector.

Jean-Louis Borloo, Dr Norbert Röttgen and Chris Huhne, the three environment minister from France, Germany and UK publicly stated in July that Europe needs a higher target of 30% as to not lag behind in the global race for green technology. If this would be the case one side effect would be improved health of European citizens, because what is good for climate is good for health.

Nevertheless what happens at local level already today makes a difference. So while we lobby at European level we are pleased to learn for example that at Skåne University Hospital all nine hospitals are using renewable electricity since 2009. We would be keen to hear what you do locally.

Through our collaboration with the WHO the Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) network have now set up an Environment Taskforce, where HCWH has a chair. Our goal is to advance the environment and healthcare agenda within HPH. We will prepare for a joint workshop to be held at Finland in 2011 at their next annual conference.

And finally we are preparing a new report that analysed in depth the health impact of an improved European climate policies. So stay tuned.

Anja Leetz
Executive Director – HCWH Europe

Europe: HCWH Contributes to the EU Strategy on Mercury
Health Care Without Harm Europe – HCWH Europe participated in the consultation process of the review of the European strategy on mercury and called, among other things, for the mercury export ban to be extended to the export of products containing mercury - including mercury medical devices.  more

International: Mercury-Free Health Care - Toward the Tipping Point
Health Care Without Harm – WHO and HCWH have issued a two-year progress report on the global Mercury-Free Health Care Initiative. The report documents major advances in dozens of countries in the effort to eliminate mercury-based medical devices around the world.  more

International: Global Mercury Treaty Negotiations Begin
Health Care Without Harm – The world's governments came together in Stockholm June 7-11 to launch global negotiations for a mercury treaty.  The health sector, including HCWH, had a high profile at the meeting. Read the Civil Society Health Sector Platform.  more

Europe: HCWH Europe Joins Group of Scientists Call for BPA Ban
efsa.europa.eu – While France suspended the use of Bispenol A in baby bottles until further evaluation by official agency in July, the Danes have already a ban in place for all products intended for children under the age of 3. The European Food Safety Authority have postponed any deliberation on BPA until the autumn.
more  |  read the letter sent by scientists and NGOs to CEF EFSA Panel

Vienna: The Vienna Hospital Association Created a Charter on Sustainability
wienkav.at – The Vienna Hospital Association (a member of HCWH) and the City of Vienna created a charter on sustainability for the newly planned Vienna North Hospital. It defines the sustainability goals of both institutions and sets criteria for the site, the interior, on energy and the building. more (scroll down for English version)

Sweden: Sörmland County Council Measures Pharmaceuticals Compounds in Water
www.landstinget.sormland.se – Sörmland County Council has started measuring pharmaceuticals compounds in sewage water and in water streams. The result shows that ethinylestradiol (most commonly used in contraceptive pills for birth control among others) in water streams pass the limit when the concentration can reduces egg fertilization in fish. In order to reduce pharmaceutical compounds Doctors receive information about the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and the County Council informs patients to return unused medications to the pharmacy. more (in Swedish)

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