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For a Systematic Integration of Environment and Health
Environmental problems, such as particulate matter, the spread of antibiotic resistance and the exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are insufficiently solved. New challenges are emerging, for example due to climate change. At the same time, socially disadvantaged people are disproportionally higher exposed to environmental hazards due to their living conditions. Some of these problems have been known for many years, and policy makers should now address them decisively. Moreover, it is often underestimated how important nature is for health and well-being. Among other things, it helps to reduce stress, motivates to exercise and probably also strengthens the immune system. To preserve all these services, we need to improve the protection of nature and give it more space.
The multiple environmental crises lead to fundamentally new systemic demands on politics and society and require profound changes. In the upcoming transformations, for example of the transport, energy, agricultural and food systems, as well as the measures for climate adaptation, it is vital that aspects concerning health are included consistently. Healthy living conditions can only be created for all if the German government, the Länder and municipalities synergize general health and the environment consistently.
In this special report, the SRU makes recommendations on how this can be achieved. Doing so the council focuses on living conditions in urban areas, the sustainable use of chemicals and a stronger integration of environmental-related health concerns in other policy fields.
This English-language publication summarises a more comprehensive German-language report “For a Systematic Integration of Environment and Health” published in June 2023.
2023