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Inaugural Environment and Health School takes place in Bonn 31-10-2019
As the environment and health agenda and related challenges rapidly evolve in Member States of the WHO European Region, there is a permanent need to ensure that technical capacities are nurtured in all countries. Responding to this demand, the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH) has developed the Environment and Health School, which is taking place for the first time this week at their premises in the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany.
New WHO noise guidelines for Europe released 10-10-2018
The just released WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region provide strong evidence that noise is one of the top environmental hazards to both physical and mental health and well-being in the European Region. Officially launched to countries and stakeholders in Basel, Switzerland on 10 October 2018, the document identifies levels at which noise has significant health impacts and recommends actions to reduce exposure. For the first time, a comprehensive and rigorous methodological framework was applied to develop the recommendations.
Protect our environment, protect our health: World Environment Day 2018 05-06-2018
Today is World Environment Day. Each year, at least 1.4 million Europeans die prematurely due to polluted environments, accounting for at least 15% of Europe’s total deaths. Altogether, European citizens lose 50 million years of healthy life annually as a result of environmental risks.
Day 2 of Environment and Health Conference: Addressing inequalities, good governance, rights and resilience 15-06-2017
On the second day of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, participants explored the role of communities and national and regional authorities in strengthening resilience. Discussions focused on the global relevance of environment and health policy in Europe and how to stimulate changing patterns of consumption towards sustainable development.
United Nations agencies urge Europe’s action on 1.4 million annual deaths from polluted environments 13-06-2017
The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) call on European leaders to scale up action to prevent environment-related deaths and diseases affecting their populations. Each year, at least 1.4 million Europeans die prematurely due to polluted environments; this corresponds to at least 15% of Europe’s total deaths. Around half of these deaths are due to outdoor and indoor air pollution. Altogether, European citizens lose annually 50 million years of healthy life from environmental risks.
Decarbonisation – Zero emission mobility starts now! 19-07-2016
Taking stock of climate change challenges and the priorities set out in the Paris Agreement, the international Klimaaktiv Mobil conference “Decarbonisation – Zero emission mobility starts now!” took place in Vienna, Austria, on 13–15 July 2016.
European countries to meet in April to review progress on environment and health 05-03-2015
On 28–30 April 2015 in Haifa, Israel, countries in the WHO European Region will evaluate the status of environment and health in the WHO European Region at the mid-term review of the European environment and health process.
Welcome to the newsletter of the European Environment and Health Process (EHP) 27-10-2014
The introduction of a European Environment and Health Process Newsletter will keep stakeholders up-to-date on the EHP’s continually-expanding body of work. Particularly during preparations for mid-term review of the Parma Commitments in March 2015, the need became evident for a means of sharing news and information on activities.
Just published: Environmental health inequalities in Malta. Assessment report 17-02-2014
This report presents the first national assessment of the magnitude and distribution of environmental health inequalities in the Maltese Islands, and responds to the commitments made at the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Parma, Italy in 2010.
Visualizing the economic and health benefits of environmental measures: a winning combination 23-10-2013
“Visualizing” both the health and economic gains can help persuade policy-makers to improve environmental health and obtain government support, according to participants at the Second Symposium on Environmental Health and Economics, held on 14–15 October 2013 in Bonn, Germany.
Applications welcome for observership at WHO/Europe 18-04-2013
The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) is sponsoring a three-day observership for five people in WHO/Europe’s Division of Communicable Diseases, Health Security and Environment.
WHO/Europe in Copenhagen moving to new premises 05-04-2013
WHO/Europe’s head office, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is moving to new premises during 22 March to 1 April 2013. All United Nations organizations in the Danish capital will come together in new premises known as UN City.
WHO and JRC release new guidance to calculate the impact of noise on people’s health in Europe 14-12-2012
New guidance to assess the health impact of noise is now available to national and local authorities across Europe.WHO/Europe, supported by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), has released step-by-step guidance on how to calculate the burden of cardiovascular diseases and sleep disturbance from noise. This is the result of a 2-year study conducted by a group of international experts from WHO, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.
Regional Director attends Environment and Health Ministerial Board (EHMB) meeting in Azerbaijan 21-11-2012
At its third meeting, EHMB agreed that an environment and health gateway, an on-line knowledge repository and information portal, will be developed. The meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Environment of Azerbaijan, concluded on 16 November 2012.
WHO publication on noise highly commended by British Medical Association 19-09-2012
On 13 September 2012, at the annual BMA Medical Book Awards ceremony in John Snow Hall (London, United Kingdom), the WHO/Europe publication “Burden of disease from environmental noise” was “highly commended” in the public health category.
New report gives preliminary dose estimation from Fukushima nuclear accident 23-05-2012
The report describes a preliminary estimate of radiation doses to the public resulting from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear site in Japan in March 2011.
WHO launches expanded European Centre for Environment and Health in Bonn, Germany: new report on environmental health inequalities published 14-02-2012
One citizen out of five dies from environment-associated diseases in the WHO European Region. The environmental burden of ill health varies significantly across the Region, however, ranging from 14% to 54%. Within countries, the poor can be exposed to environmental risks five times more often than their wealthier peers, a new WHO report concludes.
Joint action on environmental health threats discussed 02-11-2011
Meeting for the first time in Bled, Slovenia, on 26–28 October 2011, the European Environment and Health Task Force discussed proposed areas of joint action to implement the commitments agreed by European countries in the Parma Declaration on Environment and Health.
New evidence from WHO: inadequate housing causes more than 100 000 annual deaths in Europe 23-06-2011
Inadequate housing accounts for over 100 000 deaths per year in the WHO European Region and causes or contributes to many preventable diseases and injuries, including respiratory, nervous system and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This is the main conclusion of a report, "Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing", released today by WHO/Europe.
Ministers push environment and health commitments forward 05-05-2011
Environment and health ministers, meeting in Paris this week, have agreed on how to monitor progress in reducing the adverse health impact of environmental threats across the European Region. The first meeting of the European Ministerial Board on Environment and Health took place on 4-5 May 2011.
New evidence from WHO on health effects of traffic-related noise in Europe 30-03-2011
Traffic-related noise accounts for over 1 million healthy years of life lost annually to ill health, disability or early death in the western countries in the WHO European Region. This is the main conclusion of the first report assessing the burden of disease from environmental noise in Europe, released today by WHO/Europe. Noise causes or contributes to not only annoyance and sleep disturbance but also heart attacks, learning disabilities and tinnitus.
Earth Hour: use energy wisely 09-03-2011
20.30 to 21.30 on Saturday 26 March 2011 will mark Earth Hour, when lights will be switched off around the globe so people can take a stand against climate change. Reducing overall energy use and encouraging the uptake of renewable energy sources have a dual benefit for health. This year we are being encouraged to “Go beyond the hour!”
WHO meeting to estimate the burden of disease from environmental noise, Bonn, Germany, 14-15 October 2010 24-09-2010
This meeting follows up on the results a WHO/Europe pilot study on the burden of disease of priority environmental exposures in six European countries. According to the study, environmental noise is the second leading cause of the environmental burden of disease in the selected countries. Conclusions and recommendations from the meeting will help local and national authorities in risk assessment and environmental health planning related to environmental noise.

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