Webinar on environmental health inequalities: evidence for action
19 October 2020, 10:30–12:00 (CEST) (English only)
This webinar will present the key findings of the recent WHO assessment report on environmental health inequalities, showing that such inequalities have not been addressed successfully in many countries of the WHO European Region. Specific emphasis will be put on inequalities that have a high relevance in the context of COVID-19, affecting conditions of disadvantaged population groups during lockdown periods.
Environmental conditions are a major determinant of health and well-being, but they are not distributed equally across the population. Higher levels of environmental risk are often found in disadvantaged population subgroups. Recent work by WHO/Europe has explored the unequal distribution of environmental risks within countries and shows that – in all countries – undue disparities in environmental conditions, risk exposures and related health outcomes affect citizens daily in all settings where people live, work, travel and spend their time.
The webinar will also provide an overview of a WHO resource package on environmental health inequalities, demonstrating how environmental equity can be operationalized and tackled at subnational level, and what different actors can do. This will then be reflected upon by short statements from local and national governments on their respective roles, and examples of action taken.
Programme
- Introduction and relation of environmental health inequalities to COVID-19 (WHO)
- Key data and findings from the environmental health inequalities assessment report (Gabriele Bolte)
- The environmental health inequality resource package and how it can promote environmental equity action (Jon Fairburn)
- Recent evidence on unequal access to nature during COVID-19 (Ben Wheeler)
- Environmental equity action in the city of Barcelona (Carme Borrell, oral statement)
- National perspective (oral statement, to be confirmed)
- Moderated discussion on questions and answers
Please register for this webinar in advance here.
