HEAL Welcomes Environment Ministers’ Inclusion of “Health Protection” in 7th EAP
The Health and Environment Alliance strongly supports the EU Environment ministers’ call for environmental policy measures, which will help prevent rising rates of chronic disease, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, in the 7th Environmental Action Programme.
12.06.2012 |HEAL
The conclusions adopted today by the EU Environment Ministers on “Setting the framework for a Seventh EU Environment Action Programme” urges the Commission to address health and environment in the forthcoming 7th EAP proposal “to ensure the continuation and enhancement of policies to protect human health and the environment.”
HEAL Executive Director, Genon Jensen says: “Ministers are urging the Commission to make sure that health and environment continues to be a priority, and is enhanced. This is good news. Surveys show that citizens all over Europe are concerned about the impacts on their health of exposure to chemicals, air and noise pollution, and climate change.
Just last week the GEO-5 report (Global Environment Outlook) warned that governments will preside over unprecedented levels of degradation if current trends continue.
The report shows that what works is setting goals with specific measures and timelines. HEAL therefore calls on EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik to bring forward a proposal with concrete targets and actions to put Europe on a path to healthy and sustainable development.”
The 7th EAP represents a key policy instrument for tackling environmental factors that result in ill-health. It can help contribute to the achievement of significant health benefits as well as reductions in healthcare costs.
HEAL Senior Policy Advisor, Lisette van Vliet says: “We especially welcome the important recognition that initiatives on EDCs should aim to reduce exposure, especially for children, and that attention must be given to measures to identify and assess chemicals mixtures. The support from Ministers on human biomonitoring is also important, especially given the need for future financing for an EU approach to using this tool in determining population exposure to environmental contaminants.”
“The Ministers have stressed that EU actions on the issues covered in their Conclusions should not wait until the 7th EAP proposal has been adopted. We therefore look to a thorough revision of the EU strategy on endocrine disruptors which formulates a definite framework for swift exposure reduction measures.” Ms Van Vliet continues.
Click on the links below to learn more about exposure to chemicals
WECF Chemicals & Health
Project Nesting
Source: http://www.env-health.org/resources/press-releases/article/heal-welcomes-environment
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