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Healthy environment, healthy lives: how the environment influences health and well-being in Europe

Publication Created 18 Aug 2020 Published 08 Sep 2020
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A significant proportion of the burden of disease in Europe continues to be attributed to environmental pollution resulting from human activity. This report highlights how the quality of Europe’s environment plays a key role in determining our health and well-being.
Downloading: PDF document icon Healthy Environment_TH-AL-20-005-EN-N.pdf — PDF document, 38.57 MB (40439116 bytes)
Publication Created 18 Aug 2020 Published 08 Sep 2020
EEA Report No 21/2019
A significant proportion of the burden of disease in Europe continues to be attributed to environmental pollution resulting from human activity. This report highlights how the quality of Europe’s environment plays a key role in determining our health and well-being.

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: TH-AL-20-005-EN-N

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Figures used

NO2 annual mean in 2018 The map represents the calculated concentrations of NO2 (annual mean) combining monitoring data with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
PM2.5 annual mean in 2018 The map represents the calculated concentrations of PM2,5 (annual mean) combining monitoring data with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
Years of life lost per 100 000 population attributable to PM2.5 and NO2 (2018) The maps show the number of years of life lost per country attributable to air pollution (PM2.5 left and NO2 right).
Potential quiet areas in Europe based upon the quietness suitability index (QSI) The quietness suitability index (QSI) provides the overview with the highest (QSI=1) and lowest (QSI=0) proportion of potential quiet areas in Europe.
Deaths related to flooding in Europe This map shows the number of deaths related to flooding per million inhabitants (cumulative over the period 1991–2015, with respect to 2015 population).
Overview of limits for exposure of the general population to power frequency EMF in the EU EU Member states are divided into three groups depending on the level of regulation applied to electromagnetic fields within their country. This maps show this geographical variation.
Patterns by county The maps show the variations in green urban spaces, self-reported health and deprivation by county.
Access to green urban areas within a ten minute walk in cities across Europe The map shows the population-weighted median area of green urban areas and forests that can be reached within 10 minutes' walking time.
Spatial distribution of exposure to NO2 across Europe, mapped for the NUTS 3 regions, 2013-2014 The colour gradient shows the population-weighted average by NUTS 3 region for the years 2013 and 2014.
Integrated environmental justice map of Berlin Integrated environmental justice map of Berlin
Exposure to PM2.5 mapped against GDP per capita, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the GDP per capita per NUTS3 region, classified in quantiles against the highest exposure to PM2.5 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the top 20 % of PM2.5 are shown).
Patterns by NUTS2 regions The maps show the variations in green urban spaces, self-reported health and deprivation by region.
Percentage of deaths attributable to the environment by country, 2012 Map showing the percentage of deaths in each country attributable to environmental factors
Multiple hazards and multiple causes of vulnerability in Europe The map uses a colour gradient to show the number hazards (left) and number of vulnerability causes (right), for which the NUTS2 region is in the top 20% of exposure in Europe
Number of fatalities due to extreme temperatures across Europe, 1990-2016 This map presentes the number of people who died as a result of extremely low temperatures and cold weather spells between 1990 and 2016.
Percentage of households unable to keep their home warm in winter and share of population living in a dwelling not comfortably cool in summer These maps show the percentage of households unable to keep their home warm in winter (2016; left) and the share of population living in a dwelling not comfortably cool during summer (2012; right).

News and articles

Health and environment, including air and noise pollution — Putting EEA’s work in the spotlight Air pollution, noise pollution and the impacts of climate change are key risks to the everyday health and well-being of Europeans. We talked with Catherine Ganzleben, head of group, air pollution, environment and health, Alberto González, EEA air quality expert, and Eulalia Peris, EEA noise pollution expert to find out more on what the EEA is doing to improve knowledge in this important field of work.
Living healthily in a chemical world We can categorise pollution by where we find it — in soil, water or air — or we can look at different pollution types, such as chemicals. Synthetic chemicals are all around us. Some of them, however, can also be very harmful to our health and the environment. How can we limit the negative effects of chemicals that have become a part of our current way of life?
Improving air quality improves people’s health and productivity Europe’s air quality has improved significantly over recent decades but pollutants still harm our health and the environment. Measures to limit pollution would improve our quality of life, save money in healthcare, boost workers’ productivity and protect the environment.
Towards Europe 2030: resilient nature, sustainable economy and healthy lives The COVID-19 pandemic provides a clear example of how fragile our societies and economies can be in the face of a major shock. Environmental degradation and climate change are expected to make such shocks more frequent and more severe. Faced with uncertainty and multiple challenges, our only viable option is to ensure that each decision we take in this critical period brings us closer to our social and sustainability goals.
Tackling pollution and climate change in Europe will improve health and well-being, especially for the most vulnerable Air and noise pollution, the impacts of climate change such as heatwaves, and exposure to dangerous chemicals cause ill health in Europe. Poor quality environments contribute to 13 % (one in every eight) of deaths according to a major assessment on health and environment released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

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From the daily office commute to flexible working patterns — teleworking and sustainability The COVID-19 pandemic transformed our traditional understanding of ‘work’ and pushed us to embrace new ways of working. Instead of the daily commute to the office, many people are choosing to work from home or a 'third place'. This briefing builds on the outcome of a participatory foresight process and desk research to examine how teleworking could affect our daily lives, our health and the environment.
The importance of restoring nature in Europe Nature, along with its inherent biodiversity, is key to functioning societies and economies. It provides the food we eat, filters the water we drink, cleans the air we breathe, and is important for our mental and physical health. Yet in the EU, many habitats and species are in a poor or bad state, and only a very small fraction of these has shown any improvement over recent years. The restoration of Europe’s habitats and species is important not only for the inherent value of nature itself: it is also key for improved human health and well-being, and reduced climate change impacts.
Towards ‘just resilience’: leaving no one behind when adapting to climate change Despite efforts to adapt to climate change in Europe, the most vulnerable groups in society are still the most affected. Projected climate change, an ageing society and persisting socio-economic inequalities mean that differences in vulnerability and exposure to climate change are likely to continue. In addition, adaptation responses may worsen existing inequalities or even create new ones. This briefing looks at how climate change affects vulnerable groups and how these impacts can be prevented or reduced through equitable adaptation actions. It also presents examples of equity-oriented policies and measures from across Europe.
Who benefits from nature in cities? Social inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe Parks, urban forests, tree-lined streets and riverbanks support urban well-being by providing space for rest, relaxation and exercise, and by keeping temperatures down. However, not everyone across Europe enjoys equal access to green space in cities. This briefing reviews the evidence of socio-economic and demographic inequalities in access to the health benefits derived from urban green and blue spaces across Europe. It showcases examples of green spaces that were designed to meet the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged social groups.
COVID-19: lessons for sustainability? This briefing belongs to the ‘Narratives for Change’ series, which explores the diversity of ideas needed to move our society towards sustainability and fulfil the ambitions of the European Green Deal. The briefing reflects on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. It asks how these lessons can be applied to our quest for sustainability and how we can govern our societies in a way that respects planetary health as a precondition for human and economic health.

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/healthy-environment-healthy-lives or scan the QR code.

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