Global | 300 million children breathe toxic air, UNICEF reports

Global | 300 million children breathe toxic air, UNICEF reports

A new UNICEF report reveals that almost one in seven of the world’s children – or 300 million in total – live in areas with the most toxic levels of outdoor air pollution. These pollution levels are six or more times higher than what is allowed by international guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The findings come a week ahead of the COP 22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, where UNICEF is calling on world leaders to take urgent action to cut air pollution in their …

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Global | Health Care Without Harm supports World Medical Association’s call for divestment

Global | Health Care Without Harm supports World Medical Association’s call for divestment

During its annual assembly in Taiwan, the World Medical Association (WMA) called on health organizations to divest from fossil fuel based companies and to invest in companies that uphold environmental principles consistent with United Nations policy. Health Care Without Harm supports the WMA’s call for divest and similarly urges health care organizations around the world to move towards clean energy solutions.

Given the energy intensive nature of its operations, health care has a moral responsibility to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. By investing in clean …

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Global | BreatheLife2030 website now launched

Global | BreatheLife2030 website now launched

This October, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) launches the website of its joint campaign named BreatheLife2030.

This campaign aims to mobilize cities and individuals to protect our health and planet from the effects of air pollution. The target of the campaign is to cut the number of deaths caused each year by pollution in half by 2030.

BreatheLife2030 is a platform where governments and individuals can share their efforts to reduce urban air pollution. Through this platform, stakeholders provide …

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UK | Health professionals call for joined-up approach to climate change and air pollution

UK | Health professionals call for joined-up approach to climate change and air pollution

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change – representing 600,000 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals – has urged the Government to protect the public’s health by implementing its pledge to phase-out coal power.

In its inaugural report entitled A Breath of Fresh Air: Addressing Climate Change and Air Pollution Together for Health published on October 18, the Alliance argued that approaches to addressing both challenges simultaneously will create much greater health benefits and cost-savings than strategies which address them separately.

Professor John Middleton, President of the …

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Global | 92% of the world’s population exposed to excessive air pollution, WHO says

Global | 92% of the world’s population exposed to excessive air pollution, WHO says

A new World Health Organization (WHO) air quality model confirms that 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. Information is presented via interactive maps, highlighting areas within countries that exceed WHO limits.

“The new WHO model shows countries where the air pollution danger spots are, and provides a baseline for monitoring progress in combatting it,” says Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director General at WHO. It also represents the most detailed outdoor (or ambient) air pollution-related health data, by …

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Europe | Effective coal regulation could save 20,000 lives every year

Europe | Effective coal regulation could save 20,000 lives every year

A new report published by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Health Care Without Harm’s Healthy Energy Initiative partner in Europe, together with several organizations, reveals that effective emissions limits could save thousands of lives every year, yet more than half of coal power stations in Europe are operating with ‘permission to pollute’ above limits set in EU law.

The report, entitled “Lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud: How cutting coal saves lives,” shows how improving environmental performance at European coal power stations could save 20,000 lives every year. By setting and …

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Asia | HCWH-Asia urges governments to invest in low-carbon, climate-resilient health care

Asia | HCWH-Asia urges governments to invest in low-carbon, climate-resilient health care

As health and environment leaders meet this week in Manila for the World Health Organization’s Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Environment and Health (4th Regional Forum), Health Care Without Harm-Asia urges governments of Southeast and East Asian countries to protect public health from climate change and to invest in building low carbon and climate-resilient health facilities.

“Considering the climate change’s major impacts on people’s health, health care needs to help lead the efforts to address this, one of the greatest problems of our time.   Our …

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Australia | Healthcare professionals concerned about climate impacts, says survey

Australia | Healthcare professionals concerned about climate impacts, says survey

A survey conducted by the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), Health Care Without Harm’s Healthy Energy Initiative partner in Australia, reveal overwhelming concern among Australian healthcare stakeholders regarding the lack of a national strategy to protect Australians from the health impacts of global warming.

In this new report, more than 130 peak health bodies, unions and health professionals – including doctors, nurses, midwives, public health practitioners and psychologists – were asked to evaluate the health sector’s preparedness for the impacts of climate change.

The results uncovered major gaps and widespread concerns, revealing:

Health professionals …

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Global | Conference on Climate and Health Care at COP22 – Register now!

Global | Conference on Climate and Health Care at COP22 – Register now!

As world leaders convene in Marrakech, Morroco to map out strategies to achieve the climate goals agreed upon in Paris last year, Health Care Without Harm and The Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech are pleased to host the Climate and Health Care Conference – COP22 on November 14, 2016.

This one-day conference brings together health sector representatives and experts from around the world to discuss the integral role of health care in this global effort. Speakers, including representatives from the government, private, and public sector of …

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India | Environmental health expert visits coal plants to jumpstart research

India | Environmental health expert visits coal plants to jumpstart research

From September 12 to 23, 2016, Dr. Peter Orris, Professor and Chief of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System and scientific adviser to Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), visited several coal plant communities that will undergo an environmental health impact assessment as part of HCWH’s Healthy Energy Initiative work in India.

Facilitated by Community Environmental Monitors (CEM), our Healthy Energy Initiative partner in India, Dr. Orris’s visit also included lectures and workshops delivered in several academic and research …

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