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| In this issue |
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| Editorial |
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In February the Sustainable Development Unit of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) released their vision for a sustainable healthcare system by 2050. Ideally this ambitious vision should be guidance for hospitals and healthcare centres to reduce their impact on the environment everywhere in Europe and beyond. The vision sets out where we want to be by 2050 and together with the supporting documents gives tools how to become a low carbon and sustainable organisation in terms of energy, waste, procurement and travel. What it needs now is health leaders together with staff to turn the vision into a reality. Just a month later the EU Commission released their ‘2050 Low Carbon Roadmap’ for Europe. Two documents, but the differences could not be more apparent. The Commission document suggests stepping up European emission cuts to 25% by 2020. This would mean that Europe would need to meet its energy efficiency target. But scientists tell us that even a 25% reduction will almost certainly lead to a global temperature increase of more than 2 degrees. To avoid this tipping point more ambitious goals need to be set. It will be the health systems across Europe that will have to deal with the impact of climate change. Time for the Commission to be inspired by other initiatives, such as the NHS vision. And time for the healthcare sector to voice concern and demand ambitious targets, be it from our own governments or the Commission.
We hope you will be inspired by the news we bring to you and that you will share your stories with us. As usual, please let us know what you want to have featured or send us your information for our next newsletter.
Best wishes from Anja
Anja Leetz
Executive Director – HCWH Europe |
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| News Snippets |
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Power Point on Climate Change and the Role of Healthcare Professionals
The Climate and Health Literacy Consortium has updated its PowerPoint presentation on climate and health for the health sector. The Consortium provides a wide range of scientific data on the links between climate and health and can be tailored and used to make presentations on the need for sustainable healthcare. Please share this link with your colleagues and feel free to use these PowerPoints to make and share presentations of your own. There are two versions: one for administrators, one for clinicians. more |
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New HCWH Climate and Health News Service
The HCWH Climate and Health News Service is a brand-new free service that aims to keep you – health professionals, climate experts and decision makers – informed on the latest developments, trends, resources and events around the world.
If you're not already a subscriber, you can sign-up for free, here. Or you can contact Alejandra Livschitz for more information. |
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Visions for Sustainable Healthcare Launched in the UK
The NHS Sustainable Development Unit in the UK released their acclaimed Route Map for the NHS, setting out a vision for a sustainable healthcare system by 2050. more |
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Low Carbon Healthcare Initiative Searching for Good Examples
The public procurement network project LCB-Healthcare (Low Carbon Building Healthcare), which is sponsored by the European Commission under the Lead Market Initiative, is looking to accelerate progress towards low carbon healthcare facilities by sharing and building on experience to the removal of barriers. They are currently seeking to identify leadership organisations and initiatives in other countries.
Please contact Angus for more information or to share best practice examples. |
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European Medicines Agency launched ‘Road map to 2015’
The European Medicines Agency has published its ‘Road map to 2015’ in January 2011. more |
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ClientEarth Shines Spotlight on Chemicals Management in EU Countries
Member States are required to submit progress reports to the European Commission on the evaluation and enforcement of REACH. The NGO ClientEarth has made these reports public, so check out what your country is doing about chemicals. The reports include the results of the official inspections; the monitoring carried out; the penalties provided for and other measures taken for the monitoring and enforcement of REACH. more |
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| Conferences |
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Asturias, Spain: International Conference on Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention
17-18 March 2011
In 2008, there were 7.6 million deaths from cancer, alongside 12.7 million new cases. Worldwide, cancer is the second leading cause of death. The WHO’s first international conference on the primary prevention of cancer through environmental and occupational interventions will take place 17–18 March. more |
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Paris, France: 3rd Appeal, International Congress
12-13 April 2011
The Paris Appeal is an international declaration on diseases due to chemical pollution. The Appeal was launched in 2004 and has been signed by over a thousand scientists and European citizens. The 3rd appeal will focus on children’s health in relation to the environment. It will be followed by a short course on environmental medicine (14–16 April, 2011). more or register |
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Spain: Preventing and Improving the Life Quality of Cancer Patients, Reducing the Environmental Risk of Cancer Survivor, Family and Community
16-18 Nov 2011
Dr Juan Antonio Ortega one of the organisers of the conference would like to invite NGOs in Europe working in preventing and improving the life quality of cancer patients, and/or reducing the environmental risk of cancer survivors, family and community. There will be a social forum among NGOs, individuals, families and volunteers. One of the topics will be "The role of NGOs in the primary prevention of cancer. What we can do now."
Please contact Dr. Ortega if you are interested in attending. |
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Brussels: Public Hearing on Endocrine–Disrupting Chemicals: From Ambition to Action
3 May 2011
The EU is in deadlock on EDCs. There is no established definition of what counts as an endocrine disruptor and no process for addressing their presence in consumer goods and the environment. Both are essential to effective regulation. ChemSec has organised a Public Hearing and is releasing their new Chemical SIN list 2.0. register here |
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| EU Policy Development |
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Global Mercury Treaty Still Far Away
The Second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC2) met from 20 – 25 January 2011 in Chiba, Japan to continue the process of negotiating a global mercury treaty. Read our press release and comments to the mercury negotiations here. |
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EU Parliament Vote on Waste in Electrical and Electronic Equipment
3 February 2011
The European Parliament voted in plenary on the Directive on waste in electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, recast). The vote included a provision for better consideration of nanomaterials in WEEE. The text will now be discussed by the Council. more |
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European Commission Announces the Ban of the First Six Chemicals Under REACH
17 February 2011
Six substances of very high concern will be banned within the next three to five years unless an authorisation is granted to individual companies for their use. These substances are carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction and/or persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.
The following 6 chemicals are the first entrants in the Annex XIV list: 5–ter-butyl–2,4,6–trinito–m–xylene (musk xylene), 4,4'–diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), bis(2–ethylexyl) phthalate (DEHP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). more |
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Ecolabel Criteria for Several Products Agreed
February 2011
A Member State committee has adopted revised ecolabel criteria for hand dishwashing detergents, all-purpose cleaners and lubricants. The rules set more stringent thresholds for chemicals and broaden the scope of the labels. Products awarded the ecolabel in all three categories cannot contain any substances of very high concern. Read the Commission draft criteria on hand dishwashing detergents and all-purpose cleaners |
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EU Commission Releases the EU 2050 Low Carbon Roadmap and Energy Efficiency Plan
8 March 2011
Proposals published in March make a clear case for increased goals to reach a higher reduction target of greenhouse gas emissions. The current energy efficiency target will be missed and more needs to be done to make Europe a truly low carbon society. read documents |
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| News From Our HCWH Europe Members |
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International Society of Doctors for the Environment
The International Society of Doctors for the Environment has submitted a paper on Environmentally Persistent Pharmaceutical Pollutants (EPPP) to the secretariat of the Strategic Approachto International Chemicals Management (SAICM), a United Nation process, for the consideration to be discussed at the 3rd session by the International Conference to be held in 2012. read paper |
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Davide Sgarzi, HCWH Europe’s Board Member, Participated at the 2nd European Medical Waste Conference
Davide Sgarzi, one of HCWH Europe’s board members, took part in the 2nd European Medical Waste Conference. The conference took place in February 2011 and was attended by about 100 people, mainly from Europe and USA. Davide presented his views on hospital waste management and disposal, focusing his presentation on the importance of involving people in finding solutions for reducing the amount and danger of Hospital Waste (HW) and selecting between incineration and sterilization in accordance with their sustainability. Soon the presentations and videos of the conference will be online here. |
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Jegrelius Institute
The Jegrelius Institute held a seminar about PVC free blood bags in Nov. 2010. The suppliers favour a two–step approach – an alternative plasticizer first and then a PVC–free bag.
You can read the report here. |
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Stockholm County Council’s Reduce Their Impact on the Climate Through Procurement of New PCs
Stockholm County Council aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions from the use of personal computers by more than 40 percent. The amount of hazardous substances will also be reduced by 8.000 kg, when multiple environmental and health hazardous chemicals in the computers will be phased out. This is thanks to high environmental standards in the procurement of new personal computers.
Stockholm County Council currently has around 40.000 PCs. As they are replaced, major environmental benefits as well as cost savings will be made. It is estimated that the full effect of the agreement will be reached at the turn of 2014/2015.
"We want to send a strong signal to the market that environmental performance is important and that it is possible to combine environmental and economic sustainability", says Jan Zetterdahl, IT Director, Stockholm County Council.
Requirements concerning energy consumption, the use of recycled plastics in new products and information about the weight of the products were made in the tender documentation. All computers are Energy Star labelled and each monitor is TCO–certified. In addition, requirements were made to phase out lead, mercury, halogenated flame retardants and PVC in the computers. With an estimate that every personal computer contains an average of 2 kg of these substances, 8.000 kg hazardous substances will be phased out. The winning supplier, Dell, fulfilled all the chemical requirements.
"High environmental requirements in procurement are one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact, as environmentally harmful products never enter the business. Just this procurement reduces the County Council's carbon emissions by 2000 tons", says Anna Linusson, Head of Environmental Department, Stockholm County Council. |
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Notice: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes. As all these articles are public, some links might expire after some days after their release date. |
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