Making the case for continued EU action for health, environment, and climate protection (2024-25)

Introduction

HEAL aims to protect the environment for strengthening people's health. HEAL is active in Brussels and in the 27 EU member states through an active, authoritative, and diverse environmental health membership network, comprised of doctors, nurses, asthma and cancer patients, non-profit health insurers, and many others.

Objectives

HEAL draws on its excellent science and non-governmental networks from around the globe for relaying new evidence to European policy-makers and sharing policy developments at the international level. With the June 2024 elections, the next EU policy cycle will start (new EU Parliament, EU Commission, political priorities).

Current Challenges

With a shift to the political right, EGD backlash, and an urgency to act on pollution and the climate crisis, HEAL's priority is to bring forward the evidence, engage the health sector, and make the case for strong EU policies to protect health, building on HEAL's EU election demands.

Unique Position

As the leading European non-profit organization working for better health through a healthy environment, with 80+ member organizations, HEAL is uniquely placed to:

• Canvass health sector expertise
• Boost engagement
• Uphold momentum for disease prevention in the development and implementation of EU environmental and climate policies.

Future Engagement

In 2024, we will consolidate high health sector EU policy engagement and activate new health constituents, especially health insurers, to showcase the economic cost of (policy) inaction.

Anticipated Results

Anticipated results include:

1. Advances on clean air (updated EU air quality standards)
2. Better protection against hazardous chemicals (CLP reform conclusion)
3. Progress on EU international leadership on PFAS chemicals
4. Continued deliberations in the new EU Parliament on a health update of the EU chemicals law REACH
5. Pesticide reduction (SUR)
6. Progress on the EU's climate 2040 ambition

Ahead of Poland's EU Presidency, we will advocate for climate ambition and a coal phase-out for better health.

Strategy

The project uses a threefold strategy:

• Science-policy translation
• Tailored communication (materials)
• Capacity building of health organizations to act as multipliers for a healthy planet for healthy people.

Long-term Impact

Activities will, in the short and long term, contribute to better human health and reduced rates of lung disease, cancer, etc., by reducing environmental and climate-related risks of ill health, particularly for vulnerable groups facing health inequalities.

Expected Impacts

Impacts include:

• EGD files closure
• Better evidence base for EU policies
• Stronger two-way channeling
• Multiplier effect.