Over 100 representatives from health and environment ministries from across Europe met to begin discussions on how to best protect children from environmental hazards. This took place in the context of the Second Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the Budapest Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health on 26-27 June in Stockholm, Sweden.
One of the main topics under discussion was the draft Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan, which lists environmental risk factors and specific child-related actions governments could take to reduce the harmful health effects, such as setting targets, monitoring, raising awareness and enacting legislation.
Discussions were also directed at getting country feedback on a number of other conference topics being developed for the Budapest Fourth Ministerial Conference which will take placebJune 23-25, 2004. Additional issues on the agenda for the Budapest Ministerial Conference which were discussed in the Stockholm meeting include a draft Ministerial Declaration, an environment and health information platform, and the Precautionary Principle.
– To find out more on the topic and background papers, visit the WHO website
To learn more about the involvement of NGOs and other Major Groups in preparing for the Budapest conference:
– Sign up to the EPHA Environment Network list serve, On the Road to Budapest
– Visit the new website Healthy Planet Forum