Integrating health in environmental assessments

WHO/Europe supports the integration of health into environmental assessments, such as environmental impact assessments (EIA) and strategic environmental assessments (SEA), and contributes to implementation of the SEA Protocol with regard to inclusion of health considerations.

This is done through capacity building as well as through developing methods and tools for the HIA of specific sectors within projects.

EIA should consider, among other issues, the effects of a project on health, but this aspect is often assessed poorly or not at all.

SEA facilitates the identification and prevention of possible environmental effects right from the start of a project, and enables environmental objectives to be considered on a par with socioeconomic ones. SEA, undertaken much earlier in the decision-making process than EIA, is therefore a key tool to prevent ill health and tackle health inequalities. Fields of application are diverse, transport being the most extensively explored.

Building capacity in environment and health

This major project targeted eight countries from central and eastern Europe. Project outputs, available also to countries outside the project, include a training package for environment and health professionals and a framework for the inclusion of dedicated modules in the curricula for continuous professional development of environment and health professionals

Health and environment networking portal (HENVINET)

Integrated assessment of health risks from environmental stressors in Europe (INTARESE)

Health and strategic environmental assessment

Background information and report on a WHO meeting, Rome, Italy, 8–9 June 2009

Urban reduction of GHG emissions in China and Europe (URGENCHE)

This international project aims to assess the risks and benefits for health and well-being associated with alternative urban policies for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Chinese and European cities.
Contaminated sites and health

Report of two workshops on methods and tools for the health impact assessment of contaminated sites

Health status of populations living in Italian areas at high risk of environmental crisis

Impact of waste treatment on human health in Campania region (Italy)

Health impact assessment of air pollution in Italian cities

Methods of assessing human health vulnerability and public health adaptation to climate change

WHO/Europe, 2003

Social inequalities in environment and health