International recognition

Transcription

1 International recognition By Eva Kunseler The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was the first to address human activities in relationship to the environment United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) World Earth Summit 1992 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil World leaders recognized the importance of investing in improvements to people s health and their environment as a prerequisite for sustainable development Sustainable development meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Five major agreements on global environmental issues were signed: The Framework Convention on Climate Change (formal treaty, binding) The Convention on Biological Diversity (formal treat, binding) Agenda 21 (non-binding statement) The Rio Declaration summarizes consensus principles of sustainable development (non-binding statement) Statement on Forest Principles (non-binding statement Further commitment to securing human health and a healthy environment through topic-related international declarations and statements 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (into force 1989) 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (into force 2005) 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Environmental health hazards are associated with a variety of aspects of economic and social development. Therefore, strong links exist between goals for environmental improvement and for reduction in inequalities European recognition Initial events: 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment and 1977 World Health Assembly foundation of Health for All strategy Ministerial conferences on Environment and Health First conference in Frankfurt 1989 European Charter on Environment and Health Follow-up: 1994, 1998, 2004 Environmental Health Process in Europe (EHPE) Aim: To interlink the environment and health sectors by strengthening collaboration at international and national level EHAPE / NEHAP: Environmental Health Action Plan Policy programme that states environmental health visions and priority actions Aarhus Conference (1998) on the Environment for Europe process UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters European Environment and Health Strategy Combined initiative from EC DG Environment, Research and Health Focus on children as a particular group of attention Sixth Environment Action Programme Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice SCALE: Science, Children, Awareness, Legislation and Evaluation CEHAPE / CEHAP (by 2007) Targeted focus on children s environmental health Emphasis on public access to EH information and communication International agencies involved with EH European Commission (EC) DG Environment ( DG Health and Consumer Protection ( DG Research ( European Environment and Health Committee (EEHC) ( To coordinate and evaluate the implementation of EHAPE World Health Organization (WHO) DG Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments - Protection of the Human Environment ( European Centre for Environment and Health ( WHO International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) ( United Nations Environmental Programme ( Established during 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) ( European Environment Agency ( EH Policy action Three groups of policy actions classified 1. Actions concerning basic requirements for EH 2. Actions concerning prevention and control of medium- and long-term EH hazards 3. Actions concerning the promotion of human wellbeing and mental health rather than prevention of disease Actions should be prioritized according to: Nature and extent of EH hazard, nature and severity of health effect, numbers of people at risk Evidence of a worsening trend in the severity of an EH problem Technical feasibility and affordability of solutions Likely health benefits in relation to required inputs for effective environmental intervention Priority is given to interventions aimed at controlling the source EH Policy aspects Policy focus: direct or indirect Addressing health consequences due to environmental exposure Policy strength Potency of binding proper authorities e.g. to policy enforcement Policy structure EH priorities in policy frameworks such as laws (statutes), regulations and guidelines Policy enactment, implementation, enforcement and follow-up in plans of action identifying policy alternatives according to cost-benefit profiles, abatement programs or monitoring strategies 1

2 Overarching EH policies Overarching EH policies reflect agreement on overall importance of preventing environmental risks in efforts to improve health and stimulate harmonization of legislation Agenda 21 (1992) and Local Agenda 21 ( A comprehensive plan of action based on a wide-ranging assessment of social and economic sectors with goals for improving environmental and developmental impact of each WHO Health for All policy framework (since 1977) HFA includes targets concerned with the interrelationship between aspects of environment and health Health 21(1998) sets out, for the first two decades of the twenty-first century, global priorities and ten targets that will create the conditions for people worldwide to reach and maintain the highest attainable level of health throughout their lives ( Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (2004) The EHAPE, endorsed by the Second Ministerial Conference, aims to give purpose and direction to environmental health activities within countries, without interfering with the priorities that each country must set itself. It recognizes the need to avoid duplication of efforts by international bodies and suggests coordinated actions by WHO and all other organizations with responsibilities for protecting human health and wellbeing and the quality of the environment ( Children s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (2004) ( Intensive collaboration between EU MS in areas of environmental management, water quality, air quality, food safety, waste management, prevention of soil pollution, human settlements and occupational health EHAPE actions To develop action plans at country level, using a stepwise approach to achieve long-term policy objectives Focus on cost-benefit approach To identify actors in the context of shared responsibility and subsidiarity To ensure joint participation of public health and environmental sectors To improve policy tools: from traditional to integrated approach To share responsibility among all relevant economic sector To promote international concerted priority actions Focus on sharing experience and coordinating joint efforts CEHAPE Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Budapest June 2004 The future for our children Agreed by 52 governments of WHO EURO region Country implementation supported by EEHC CEHAPE Task Force, consisting of national EH focal points Four Regional Priority Goals (RPGs) define the priority areas CEHAPE Priority areas Water safe supply, hygienic practices Accidents and injuries road safety, injury prevention, promotion of physical exercise Outdoor and indoor air pollution reduction of emission, pollution-free zones, public smoking ban and smoke-free homes, indoor air quality requirements Chemicals, noise and radiation improvement of chemical legislation and monitoring, noise exposure reduction measures, safe working environment, safe and healthy food EH policy actors Intersectoral approach is most effective in formulating environmental health policies Policy structure: multi-governance system Policy framework and discourse development at European level International actors such as WHO and EC are key players Policy elaboration: enactment, implementation, enforcement and follow-up at national level Ministries of health and environment are key players Consultation and involvement of public and private actors stakeholders An experienced user group EH regulation EH regulation can affect various points in the pathway from production to human impact: The source of emission or discharge of hazardous substances Ambient levels of hazardous substances The supply, transport, use and eventual disposal in the environment of industrial or consumer products Exposure of humans to noxious substances or products The need for regulation depends on: Severity and frequency of damage to health Size and susceptibility of the population exposed Environmental distribution and persistence EH regulation serves different purposes: Primary prevention improving the environment itself, including air, water, housing and transport Equity and solidarity helping people in special need Poverty reduction because people in poor neighbourhoods are usually exposed to the worst amount of environmental contamination Health promotion because it also matters how people live, what they do and what they buy EH regulation is based on the underlying principles of sustainable development, precaution and prevention, polluter pays, and subsidiarity 2

3 EH policy instruments Achievement of total quality management by application of diverse policy instruments Legislative and administrative instruments Market-based competitive instruments Financial support mechanisms Community management It is useful to develop standards to make possible the evaluation of policy effectiveness by means of monitoring systems EH policy state of the art Transposition policies for EC Directives on water, outdoor air, noise, chemicals in food Reporting obligations: legal transposition, practical compliance, environmental data, descriptions of policy measures, policy effects and effectiveness International commitments on water, indoor air, chemicals in food Requiring adoption and ratification Promotion and country assistance by WHO Policy development in European projects and programmes on transport, housing and radiation Outdoor Air Policy situation Technical innovations to improve production methods Best available technology, new technology development Economic incentives emission charges and taxes Air Quality Framework Directive 96/62/EC Limit values for atmospheric pollutants e.g. SO2, NO2, PM, lead, ozone, benzene, CO, PAH, cadmium Daughter Directives for controlling and monitoring certain pollutants Emission standards Particular attention to the transport sector WHO global air quality guidelines October 2006 Health-based guidelines for PM, SO2, NO2 and O3 Research programmes Clean Air for Europe (CAFÉ) Technical analysis on negative health effects of air pollution underpinning the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution Water Policy situation Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of drinking water Standards for most common substances (or parameters) that can be found in drinking water Council Directive 2006/7/CE and 76/160/EEC on the quality of bathing water Binding microbiological standards in bathing waters UNECE Protocol on Water and Health International agreement to attain an adequate supply of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for everyone WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality 3 editions Health-based targets for microbial, chemical and radiological compounds Guidance for establishment of Water Safety Plans and coordination of responsibilities WHO Guidelines for safe recreational waters Covering: Coastal and freshwater and Swimming Pools and Similar Recreational Environments Guidelines take account of both the severity and frequency of associated health outcomes, targets specified to Drowning and injury prevention Microbial hazards Chemical hazards Investment in infrastructure Sewage disposal and treatment plants Improvement of urban, industrial, agricultural waste water treatment Fiscal policy to control pollution through product charges or taxes on fertilizers and pesticides and emission charges or taxes on waste Radiation Policy situation Building construction material codes and ventilation requirements Stricter implementation of safety standards for limiting occupational exposure in nuclear and medical settings Sun bed use regulation Information networks and capacity-building Information on disaster plans or disaster preparedness Overarching policy development WHO INTERSUN programme Recommendations for UV radiation protection EC recommendation 90/143/Euratom on indoor radon exposure Reference levels: 400Bq.m3 for existing buildings / 200Bq.m3 for new buildings WHO International Radon Project (IRP) Evidence-based public health guidance for MS to establish radon action levels Research initiatives concerning health effects of non-ionizing radiation Noise Policy situation Directives related to noise sources from road traffic, aircraft, railway, outdoor equipment Council Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise Guidance for the production of strategic noise maps Stimulates the development of action plans to reduce harmful effects of noise exposure Focus on noise exposure EU noise Expert Network (established in 1998) To be developed: WHO Night time Noise Guidelines Research activities To be published: WHO publication on the burden of disease from environmental noise 3

4 Food Safety Policy situation Codex Alimentarius Food safety and quality reference standards Joint effort WHO and FAO, first published in 1963 EU legislation on the chemical safety of foodstuffs in five areas Additives, flavourings, contaminants, residues, packaging materials European Food Safety Authority Procedures for ensuring food safety Focus on implementation and assistance WHO Food Safety Programme Global Environment Monitoring System - Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food) Inspection at the point of production, processing or distribution Transport Policy situation Speed limits, drivers licence, traffic rules Seat belt use, vehicle requirements e.g brakes Policy development European Road Safety Action Programme Specific measures to reduce road accidents and improve road safety Subscription of European Road Safety Charter Road safety in the WHO European Region is now addressed within injury prevention WHO Charter on Transport, Environment and Health Focus on stimulating physical activity and injury prevention Research programme The Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) Joint effort of WHO/Europe and UNECE Focus on integrated action Housing Policy situation Example of policy framework United Nations Housing Rights Programme Based on UN Habitat Agenda Focus on the Prevention of Injury and the Promotion of Safety EU proposal upcoming P/ipp_en.htm Research programme WHO programme on housing and health Defining and prioritizing health impacts, developing methodology for cost-benefit analysis Indoor air Policy situation Two difficulties in establishing a policy framework General antipathy of the public toward any type of intervention inside the home Lack of resolution about the proper role of government in safeguarding air quality inside private places Technical Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) standards Focus on social behaviour and public education EU-wide Anti-smoking campaign Release in 2002 EC policy statement 2003/54/EC for prevention of smoking and improvement of tobacco control WHO tobacco-free Europe International treaty: the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Guidance on enactment of comprehensive tobacco control legislation Technical assistance and policy support Development of WHO guidelines for indoor air quality National EH policymaking Each European country has developed national environmental health plans that address health and environmental concerns EH policy frame or standards may be similar, but policy actions vary from country to country as influenced by: Planning mechanisms and division of responsibilities Ideally, working relations have been established at horizontal and vertical level with responsible actors to plan and implement measures Priority-setting of EH hazards Weighing up national data on environmental and health impacts Based on the severity of the problem and the health benefits gained by tackling it AND influenced by community opinions and political support Human and economic resources for implementation and monitoring National EH initiatives Committee: cross-sectoral co-ordination Evidence: children s exposure data at country level, identification of data needs Priority-setting Mapping of existing legislation to prevent overlap Measures: select and specify measures by responsibility and budget Communication to the target groups Implementation: allocate responsibility to ensure and monitor implementation by means of a reporting mechanism Evaluation: feedback mechanism from all stakeholders 4

5 Estonian EH policy NEHAP (need for update) Approved on 15 June 1999, revised in 2001 Inclusion of CEHAP? Environment strategy Health policy document (May 2006) To be developed: National Health Policy Action Plan Other? 5