Climate Change and Health an EU perspective.

Christian Farrar-Hockley

Climate Change and Health an EU perspective.

Christian Farrar-HockleyPolicy OfficerHealth & Environment Alliance (HEAL)

Local Authorities Protecting Health and Climate Change@ World Health Editors NetworkGeneva 23-24 January 2008


Who we are

Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL)an international not-for-profit, non governmental network that aims to improve health through EU public policy that promotes a cleaner environment and sustainable development

• Created in 2003 by members of the European Public Health Alliance, thus the former name EPHA Environment Network (EEN)

• Member of the Green 10 (see www.green10.org)


Environmental Health

The Richard Dimbleby Lecture 2007: Dr J Craig Venter – A DNA-Driven World

“Being an optimist I believe that we can ultimately solve the health care issue. But the fundamental problem facing our planet - that of climate change - is one that is far more grave. In fact, unless we tackle this head on, health care could be the least of our worries.”

Climate change and health: preparing for unprecedented challenges, Dr Margaret ChanDirector-General of the World Health Organization

I believe that climate change will ride across this landscape as the fifth horseman. It will increase the power of the four horsemen that rule over war, famine, pestilence, and death – those ancient adversaries that have affected health and human progress since the beginning of recorded history.


Talk today

• Why Local Authorities are so important.• Health Care and Prevention (synergies and

unknowns)• Health Care Systems

Mitigation/Adaptation/Development• Practical guidance on Adaptation for Local

Authorities (some examples)• The way forward.


The Dilemma

Growth and Jobs

EU ChinaHealth and Well-Being

Climate Change

Cure <-> Prevention

Social Change

Contraction Convergence


Environment v Public Health Messages

• We are not trying to save the planet, we are ensuring our (and other species) ability to live on it.

Environmental Public HealthSmoke that comes out of chimney.Communications Message therefore:Technical Fix1. The ‘Joint Fulfillment’ Dec 2007 - 20% EU-wide GHG reductions broken down into 27 Member States (need to be 30% + decarb. Support for developing countries)2. EU ETS review for post 2012 Dec 2007 - may cover up to 60% of all EU GHG/CO2 emissions (aviation, shipping, power and large industry and??) - link to CDM and other trading schemes unclear3. Renewable Energy Roadmap Dec 2007 - sectoral targets, national targets? 35-40% renewable power? Imports?4. Legislation on Carbon Capture and Storage Dec 2007 – link to EU ETS? Mandatory emissions ceilings?5. CO2 and cars (LDV) Dec 2007 - fleet consumption? Tradability? Target 2012 (120/130 g/km) – Target 2020/2025 (?)6. Review of the Building Directive (in 2008) – mandatory standards for retrofit and new buildings incl. offices?7. Fuel Quality Directive Nov 2007? - deals with upstream GHG emissions also outside EU (fends off unconventional dirty fossil fuels)8. Biofuel sustainability certification – part of the review of biofuel Directive and roadmap9. Agreement on minimum energy efficiency standards for 15-20 product categories under the EuP Directive - 2009/2010? - but comitology decision unclear on legal status10. Liberalisation of the energy market Sept 2007 -Ownership/legal unbundling? New grid/pipeline management?

Effect of smoke/determinant on health.Communication message therefore:Social change

health system response plans; training of health professionals; climate proofed infrastructure

10. Emphasis the application of the subsidiarity principle as the most promising approach to tackle consequences of climate change through concrete adaptive measures, as regions and the local entities in Europe will be more able to respond with political answers to their own experiences, but underlines the need for a coherence check on EU-level;11. Underlines the key role cities and regions play in fighting climate change and calls therefore for the implementation of integrated sustainable urban, regional and rural development strategies, which take full account of measures aimed at mitigation and adaptation and calls for scientific studies, in order to analyse which type of infrastructure can help to address climate change;


INTERNATIONAL HEALTH and CC

• ODA is changing to deal with CC• UNFCCC report on Adaptation – looks at

WSDs and CC• How does health WSDs fit in CC

(adapation and mitigation)?• Looks like the polluter will not pay!

• Predict and Prevent• www.google.org


Framework for Healthy Transport


Good for Health and Environment


Good for Environment and Health?

• Junkscience.com• Every home a Superfund site? “Mercury is highly

toxic to everyone, but particularly to children and developing fetuses,” says the activist group Environmental Defense, a long-time campaigner against mercury from power plant emissions and in automobile convenience lighting.

So it came as quite a surprise when the group began advocating that consumers bring the “highly toxic” mercury into their homes in the form of compact fluorescent light bulbs in order to reduce power plant CO2 emissions. CFLs are so hazardous, according to public health officials however, that special safety precautions must be taken for disposal or if the bulbs break.

31st 11:26 GMT +00:00Smoking bans and climate changePosted by:

The Economist | BRUSSELSCategories:

Smoking bansARE SMOKING bans bad for the environment? The thought pops up, while reading screeds of newspaper articles about the ban on smoking in the bars, restaurants and clubs of France, that will come into force at midnight tonight. Many of the articles, especially in the French press, focus on the ways in which restaurateurs and bar-owners hope to continue


Mitigation and Local Health Care

• Mitigation - reduce CO2 emission (energy efficiency and reduced resource use) - start with low hanging fruit (Audit, Switch off, Reset, CHP, Public Procurement, ISO or EMAS.)

• Biggest Problem is that Health Care Providers feels they are exempt so after the win-wins to the “carbon-neutral” they do not look further: e.g. Norway - Green Ambulances and ECO driving for Ambulance Service, Adenbrook’s Hospital UK “Travel Plan” - they are not mutually exclusive “Health Care for All”

• Lack of knowledge on what works and coordination.

Health expenditure per capita, public and private, 2005 (OECD)

No mention of CC


A few examples

www.energiesparendes-krankenhaus.deHospital Energy Certification by BUND

CRITERIA • 25 % Reduction of CO2• Continuous reduction of energy consumption• Long-term optimal energy consumption• Implementation of an energy management

• 20 hospitals certified


Does this cover it!!

6. Human developmentEnvironmental quality in human settlements and work places: waste management (including domestic waste) and sanitation; noise; clean water, air quality (ambient and indoor); exposure to chemicals and heavy metals; occupational health hazards; vectors and water-borne diseases; overcrowding.

Climate change (impact on health and safety) and ozone depletion.Environmental disasters (impact on health and safety).


EU Conscious European Hospitals


Health Care Sector

www.energiesparendes-krankenhaus.de

www.noharm.org www.gghc.org

www.eu-hospitals.net

www.greeninghealthcare.net

www.carbontrust.co.uk/carbon/nhs/


HEAL and Upcoming Events

• ERS/HENVINET meeting on air pollution and health

• HEAL list serve on HEALTH and CC• HEAL EU advocacy on HEALTH and CC. • HEAL EU advocacy on CC and Adaptation• HEAL & EUREGHA (committee of the regions) -

Climate change and the challenges for public health: engaging the regions, July 2008.

• Best Practice Award for Health Sector on CC.• Health delegation to UNFCCC COP 13.


To stay below 2 degrees C

• Global GHG emissions (+3%/a 2005) have to peak and decline in next 10 to 15 years• Global GHG emissions have to be reduced by >>50% below 1990 levels by 2050 - This translates into ~100%for industrialised countries incl EU• EU needs to reduce GHG by at least 30% domestically by 2020 and in addition contribute to at least 15% further global emissions reductionstowards clean energy development and reduced deforestation in poor countries with no GHG caps.


Http://www.env-health.org

Climate Change and Health an EU perspective.

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