The 2-day event will review the progress achieved since the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in Budapest, Hungary in 2023. At the Ministerial Conference, countries adopted the Budapest Declaration, which prioritise urgent, wide-ranging action on health challenges related to climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss along with, and in the context of, recovery from COVID-19.

Within the Budapest Declaration, the “Roadmap for healthier people, a thriving planet and a sustainable future 2023–2030” guides countries in accelerating the transitions needed towards making communities sustainable. The Roadmap explains why urgent action is needed in a particular area, offers a list of commitments countries can consider, and suggests measures to achieve them.

Programme

  Wednesday, 26 June 2024
8:30 – 9:30 Registration
8:30 – 9:30 Session 1 – Welcome and introduction, adoption of agenda and programme
  Participants will be welcomed by meeting organisers and will adopt the agenda
and programme of the meeting.
Welcoming remarks by:
  • Brigit Staatsen, Chair of the EHTF, the Netherlands 
  • Dr Doctor (Doctor ) Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Europe (video message);
  • Charles Wijnker, Director Environment and Safety, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands
  • Francesca Racioppi, Head, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (WHO ECEH)
10:00 – 10:30

Nature-base solutions for accelerating the transition to a climateresilient and nature-positive future.
Key note speech by Arjan Budding, Programme Leader Sustainable Water Management, Wageningen University & Research.
10:30 – 11:00 Session 2 – Follow-up to the Budapest Conference: where are we?
Participants will be provided with examples of the implementation of the Budapest commitments by Member States, stakeholders, and EHP Secretariat in an interview format.
11:00 – 11:30 Healthy green break
11:30 – 12:30 Session 2 (continued)
12:30 – 13:00 Session 3 – Discussion on the draft programme of work for the EHTF for 2024–2025 and on the Bonn Dialogues on Environment and Health
Participants will be briefed on the draft programme of work for the EHTF, proposed Bonn Dialogues topics, and revisions to the current set of environment and health-related SDG Sustainable Development Goal (Sustainable Development Goal ) indicators used to monitor progress under the EHP. They will be invited to consider adopting the draft programme. EHTF members will also be invited to express interest in hosting the Dialogues.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 14:45 Planetary health: a new field's scope and promise
Key note speech by Prof. Dr. Johan Mackenbach, Professor Emeritus, Erasmus University Rotterdam, followed by discussion.
14:45 – 15:30 Session 4 – Updates on major global, regional and sub-regional developments relevant to environment and health
 

Participants will be informed about updates on major global, regional, and sub-regional developments relevant to environment and health, including new publications, tools, mechanisms and initiatives.

Presentations:

  • Updates on preparation of the United Nations (UN United Nations  (United Nations  )) Climate Change Conference in Baku in 2024 - Vugar Mammadov, Ministry of Health, Azerbaijan;
  • European Environment Agency's activities on environment, climate and health - Aleksandra Kazmierczak, European Environment Agency;
  • Outcome of the sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly - Wondwosen Asnake Kibret, UN Environment  Programme;
  • Practical tools for integration of environmental and health policies - from monitoring to performance reviews - Nicholas Bonvoisin (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE));
  • Ludo Bok, UN Development Programme; Updates on the implementation of the One Health approach - Sinaia Netanyahu, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (WHO ECEH).

Pitches:

  • RIVM - Air pollution; nature-based solutions, including heat stress and adaptation; wastewater surveillance; urban planning;
  • Province of Utrecht;
  • Youth champions - Turning the Budapest Youth Declaration into action (European Environment and Health Youth Coalition, and International Youth Health Organisation);
  • Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) - Non-governmental engagement, communication, advocacy to protect health against the triple crises.
15:30 – 16:00 Healthy green break
16:00 – 17:00 Session 4 (continued) “Marketplace”
Participants will have an opportunity to engage in detailed discussions and connect with peers at the “kiosks” of a marketplace hosted by:
• HEAL;
• Province of Utrecht;
• RIVM;
• UNECE;
• WHO ECEH;
• Youth organizations.
19:00 – 21:00 A social dinner, courtesy of RIVM, featuring a welcome by Eelco Eerenberg, Deputy Mayor of the City of Utrecht.
Location: Meneer Potter, Potterstraat 3, Utrecht

 

  Thursday, 27 June 2024
9:15 – 10:00 Session 5 – Update on the EHP Partnerships and revision of the Terms of Reference for the EHP Partnerships
Lead countries will update the EHTF on the developments of the EHP Partnerships.
10:00 – 10:15 Live connection with the Central Asia International Health Investment Forum (26–27 June 2024, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan).
10:15 – 11:00 Session 5 (continued)
Lead countries will update the EHTF on the developments in the work of the EHP Partnerships. The EHP Secretariat will introduce some proposed revisions of the Terms of Reference for the EHP Partnerships for approval by the EHTF.
11:00 – 11:30 Healthy green break
11:30 – 12:00 Session 5 (continued)
Lead countries will present proposals for the establishment of new EHP Partnerships.
12:00 – 12:40 Break out room discussions
Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about EHP Partnerships through informal exchanges with the Partnership leads and co-leads.
12:40 – 13:00 The EHTF will be invited to approve the establishment of the new EHP Partnerships.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Session 6 – Strengthening governance, intersectoral collaboration, human resources and knowledge for health and environment
Participants will be informed on the development of updated professional profiles for environment and health and on the preparation of the Executive Officers Meeting on Governance and Capacities for Environment and Health (2−4 December 2024, Germany).
15:00 – 15:30 Session 7 – Revision of the EHTF Rules of Procedure
Participants will be briefed on a proposed revision and update of the Rules of Procedure of the EHTF that is submitted for discussion and approval by the EHTF.
15:30 – 15:45 Session 8 – Election of officers
Following received expressions of interest to serve in the EHTF Bureau, the EHTF will elect two Bureau members.
15:45 – 16:00 Session 9 – Any other business, summary of decisions, next steps and closure of meeting
16:00 – 16:30 Farewell coffee