2.E. Workshop: Health in Green Deal and Climate Pact
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-ENV,   Chair persons: Peter Van Den Hazel (EUPHA-ENV), Marija Jevtic (EUPHA-ENV)
Published: October 2021

Health does not only imply the absence of disease but complete physical, mental and social well-being as well. Nowadays, it seems, more than ever, that we are aware of how solemn these words are and how unreachable health is. Public health can be regarded as the science and art of achieving health in the community and implementing preventive measures and all activities contributing to public health. However, this cannot be achieved without proper environmental conditions. The EU Green Deal (EU GD) and the Climate Pact (CP) initiative, provide a clear trajectory and highlights priorities for improving the environment. Since the pollution emitted in one country affects other countries, the scope of the EU GD encompasses the whole continent, including the Western Balkans. South east Europe will be used as a case study in this workshop. The workshop is dedicated to the topic of the EU GD and the CP and connecting research, project activities and the activities of citizens and civil society in achieving the set goals of the EU Green Deal. Health impact assessment (HIA) combined with scenario analysis provides useful quantitative estimations about the implications of air quality policies that should be used for air quality management design. The impact of these international initiatives and its instruments will be analysed. Will this improve the health situation enough? Priority task of EU GD is certainly to improve of air quality throughout Europe, which requires research into the best ways for HIA of air pollution. The activities in engaging with key decision makers involved in climate change and health adaptation across Europe, providing knowledge, understanding interlinkages and identifying areas for action to promote climate policies that enhance health benefits will be presented by ENBEL project. Public health professionals should insist on health in these priorities, use them to reduce externalities, activate citizens to contribute through certain individual and non-health-related decisions and invest in the health of future generations. The GD and the CP are therefore essential processes for improving both individual and public health. An example, by delivering on the Green Deal's zero pollution ambition for health, which will be presented by HEAL. Furthermore, the role of Climate Pact Ambassadors (CPA) could be used as opportunity for dissemination aims and mission of EU GD, Western Balkan Green Agenda, as well as to provide better communication, collaboration and actions among researchers, citizens and decision makers. CPA could help in advocacy and actions to achieve better health through EU GD and CP. (References: JRC, 2020. Status of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in the Western Balkans, Benchmarking the accession process progress on environment EUR. doi:10.2760/48321.)

Key messages

Public health professionals should put an emphasis on the health implications of the WB GA priorities, by taking advantage of them to reduce externalities. Public health professionals should motivate citizens to contribute through individual and non-health-related decisions and by promoting investments in the health sector.