The Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health organised by the WHO Regional Office for Europe was hosted by the Italian Health and Environment Ministers, in Parma on 10-12 March 2010. The event focused on the protection of children’s health in a changing environment.
The Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health organised by the WHO Regional Office for Europe was hosted by the Italian Health and Environment Ministers on 10-12 March 2010 in Parma. The Conference, which took place for the first time in Frankfurt in 1989, gathered representatives of health and environment ministries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. The presence of numerous youth representatives provided the tone of the conference. The different actors worked together to shape European policies and actions on environment and health with special attention given to protecting children’s health in a changing environment.
The three main issues developed during the 3-day conference are as follows:
– Progress made in environment and health in Europe since the first European Conference on Environment and Health in 1989;
– socioeconomic, gender, age and other inequalities in environment and health; and
– the effects of climate change on health and the environment.
It took the form of a plenary around which side events were organised. After a series of presentation on a specific topic, a number of key speakers gathered in a “discussion panel” in order to debate on the main issues highlighted during the presentations. This also provided the audience with an opportunity to intervene.
EPHA summarises the key issues developed at the conference below.
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Wednesday began with numerous side events organised in the morning and followed by the Opening of the Conference in the afternoon. Zsuzsanna Jakab, the newly appointed WHO Regional Director for Europe, welcomed the participants.
The first part of the plenary session was dedicated to an assessment of the progress realised since the first Ministerial Conference. Even if several figures show improvements, such as the decrease in deaths attributed to road accidents and a fivefold decrease in mortality rates from diarrohoeal disease, the speakers concluded there is still room for improvement, notably through more comprehensive policies. Green economy and health have to be linked because the health benefits of a green economy help to drive sustainability. Well-being, health, economic growth, and environment have to be placed in the centre of political debates.
Ms Jakab expressed her wish for the Conference to make a step forward and the necessity to focus on non-communicable diseases and the social determinants of health.
Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation, addressed a video message to the audience in which she highlighted several times the importance of social determinants of health and the necessity to include health concerns in every policy.
The second session of the first day plenary focused on socioeconomic and gender inequalities. The speakers illustrated that beyond the existing health inequalities between countries, there are internal gaps between women and men, rich and poor, migrants and “natives”. In this context, Michael G. Marmot, Director of the International Institute for Society and Health, highlighted the social determinants of health and necessity to bring together the sustainability and health inequity agendas.
Thursday 11 March 2010
A morning ceremony rewarded eight projects acting in favour of environment and health. They target fields such as air quality, mobility, hazardous chemicals, and radiation. You can find more information on the ceremony here.
The remainder of the morning session was dedicated to sharing experiences in the implementation of the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE). Adopted in 2004, the action plan addresses the environmental risk factors which most affect children’s health. The panel discussion that took place after the presentations gathered several participants including a youth representative. The presence of the youth, who was active during the entire conference, was welcomed by the participants as it marked a step forward regarding the participation of youth at high level meetings, and especially in discussions on topics that directly target them. The presentation of the Youth Declaration on the last day recognised youth as an equal partner.
The afternoon session presented the importance of stakeholder involvement and the role of international financing mechanisms. Youth involvement was highlighted as well as the importance to have multi- sectoral cooperation, from the Regions to European organisations such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Friday 12 March 2010
John Dalli, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, expressed his willingness and confidence in working with stakeholders, NGOs and the WHO, in the integration of health concerns in all policies: “We have to do better and to do more”
The major outcome of the Conference was the Declaration expressing the actions on which the governments agreed to work.
Leen Meulenbergs, Chair of the Declaration Drafting Group presented the Conference Declaration that was later adopted by consensus. Through the Declaration, Ministers and Representatives of Member States to the European Region of the WHO, responsible for health and environment, commit to act on four key issues:
– Protecting Children’s Health through the implementation of Regional Priority Goals,
– Protecting health and environment from climate change,
– Involvement of children, young people and other stakeholders,
– Knowledge and tools for policy-making and implementation.
The Russian Federation was the only country not supporting the Declaration and their representatives left the audience during the acclamation. Negotiations will take place on any conflicting parts of the Declaration.
The Youth Declaration was then presented by two youth representatives. Organised around the same main issues, it also contains provisions on youth involvement and its sustainability.
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For further information:
WHO webpage on the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
European Commission webpage on the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
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