Environmental health (2024)

Environmental health (1)

WHO / Diego Rodriguez
A man collects water from the Ganges, Varanasi, India

© Credits

    Overview

    Healthier environments could prevent almost one quarter of the global burden of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic is a further reminder of the delicate relationship between people and our planet.

    Clean air, stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, safe use of chemicals, protection from radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, sound agricultural practices, health-supportive cities and built environments, and a preserved nature are all prerequisites for good health.

    Impact

    13.7 million of deaths per year in 2016, amounting to 24% of the global deaths, are due to modifiable environmental risks. This means that almost 1 in 4 of total global deaths are linked to environment conditions.

    Disease agents and exposure pathways are numerous and unhealthy environmental conditions are common, with the result that most disease and injury categories are being impacted. Noncommunicable diseases, including ischaemic heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases and cancers are the most frequent disease outcomes caused. Injuries, respiratory infections and stroke follow closely.

    WHO response

    Our activities to advance the global agenda for building healthier environments for healthier populations include:

    1. providing leadership on guiding important transitions such as in energy and transport, and stimulating good governance in health and environment;
    2. ensuring knowledge generation and dissemination for evidence-based norms and efficient solutions, steering research and monitoring change in risks to health and implementation of solutions;
    3. supporting capacity building and mechanisms for scaling up action in countries, and
    4. building capacity for emergency preparedness and response in case of environment-related incidents, and provide related guidance on environmental health services and occupational health and safety.

    Fact sheets

    • Heat and health
    • Electronic waste (e-waste)

    Questions and answers

    • Estimations of attributable burden of disease due to a risk factor
    • Public health and environment
    • Monitoring health for the SDGs
    • Ambient air pollution
    • Household air pollution
    • Water, sanitation and health

    Initiatives and groups

    • Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health (TAG-EconECH)

    Technical work

    • Environment, Climate Change and Health

    News

    All →

    28 November 2024 Departmental update New guidance launched for safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities
    20 November 2024 Departmental update Taking local climate action for global health impacts
    20 November 2024 Departmental update More Member States join the fight for health in the face of climate change
    18 November 2024 Departmental update Baku COP29 advances health-climate commitments with new coalition

    Latest publications

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    Environmental health (2)

    23 September 2024

    Sustainable development goal indicator 3.9.1: mortality attributed to air pollution

    In 2019, air pollution – both ambient and household – was the largest environmental risk tohealth, carrying responsibility for about one...

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    Environmental health (3)

    10 July 2024

    Enhancing radiation safety culture in health care: guidance for health care providers

    Radiation safety culture in health care encompasses every action taken to improve the protection and safety of patients and personnel involved in medical...

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    Environmental health (4)

    3 July 2024

    Report of a scoping meeting for the selection of indicators to monitor the impact of extreme heat on...

    This document summarizes the first meeting of an expert group convened in April 2023.The meeting had two key aims:1) to convene a group of multidisciplinary...

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    Environmental health (5)

    3 July 2024

    Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance in health and environment, 2024 update

    This is the 2024 update of the Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environment.The Compendium is a comprehensive collection of available...

    Read More

    Our work

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    Environmental health (6)

    WHO / NOOR / Sebastian Liste

    © Credits

    Overview

    In recognition of the growing need for eye care services worldwide, WHO Member States adopted resolution WHA73.4 “Integrated people-centred eye care (IPEC), including preventable vision impairment and blindness”.The key proposal of the resolution was to make IPEC the care model of choice and to ensure its widespread implementation. With this in mind, WHO, through consultation with international experts, has developed theEye care in health systems – guide for actionproviding practical, step-by-step support to Member States in the planning and implementation of IPEC.The Guide currently links four resources, or tools, including:

    1. Eye care situation analysis tool (ECSAT)
      Purpose: Questionnaire based survey tool to comprehensively assess eye care in a country.

    2. Eye care indicator menu (ECIM)
      Purpose: List of recommended eye care indicators to be collected regularly.

    3. Package of eye care interventions (PECI)
      Purpose: Planning and budgeting for eye care at each level of the health system.

    4. Eye care competency framework (ECCF)
      Purpose: Planning tool for eye care human resources based on competencies.

    Find out more by clicking on each tool below.

    Features stories

    All →

    12 July 2023 Air pollution: The invisible health threat
    16 June 2022 The making of the health and environment scorecards
    28 April 2022 Protecting workers’ health and safety: Online training resources at your fingertips
    13 April 2022 Ensuring radiological imaging is ethically provided: new WHO policy brief

    Videos

    All →

    7 November 2024 COP29: Health is the argument for climate action - WHO's Special Report on climate and health
    24 September 2024 Video on International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action 2024
    4 September 2024 Training Video: Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for walking and cycling

    Infographics

    All →

    Infographic Climate change: Not acting is costing us
    Infographic Climate change: Emissions from fossils fuels leads to: asthma, heart disease, stroke, cancers and mental health problems
    Infographic Health is the argument for climate action : summary poster
    Infographic Climate change: 70% of world's population will live in cities by 2050

    Events

    All →

    Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health 25 – 27 March 2025
    Webinar: Accessing GCF Readiness funds with WHO as the Delivery Partner (TBC) 10 – 11 December 2024
    Dangerous liaisons: How Conflicts of Interest Undermine Health and Policy 18 November 2024 18:30 – 20:00 GMT
    Health @COP29: The Health Argument for Climate Action, with a Special Focus on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health 12 November 2024 17:15 – 18:45 Azerbaijan Time

    Country profiles

    Country profiles

    Country profiles present selected data, statistics and information to provide national health profiles at given points in time.

    GO

    Related health topics

    Physical environment Air pollution
    Physical environment Chemical safety
    Physical environment Children's environmental health
    Disasters Climate change
    Health interventions Health impact assessment
    Physical environment Occupational health
    Physical environment Radiation
    Socio-political determinants Sustainable development
    Physical environment Ultraviolet radiation
    Socio-political determinants Urban health
    Physical environment Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
    Environmental health (2024)

    References

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