1. 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 Conference 25-28 November 2009, Lodz, Poland Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) Monika Kosinski, Executive Committee

2. Presentation overview 1.Environment and health agenda Creating 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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 Process HEAL 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

7. 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 makers Researchers Environmentalists Health groups

8. 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?

9. Climate and health work Prescription for a Healthy Planet A global campaign - increasing focus on the health effects of climate change by uniting the international health community www.climateandhealthcare.com Provide evidence for health friendly policy change Transport Building Power

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Thank you for your attention Any Questions? For information on the Health and Environment Alliance : www.env-health.org Genon Jesen Health & Environment Alliance Tel: +32 2 234 3640 E-mail:genon@env-health.org