WHO's work on to energy
and health
WHO's mandate:
As set out in its
Constitution, WHO works towards "the attainment by all peoples of the
highest possible level of health". Health is
defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
WHO's rationale:
Energy is the fuel for
everyday living. Energy is essential to health, development and livelihoods -
whether used inside the home, for cooking and heating, or in settlements and cities,
for transport and productive activities. Yet, energy use can also be harmful to
health - particularly in poor societies where inefficient or inappropriate
methods of cooking and transport degrade environments and have severe impacts
on health.
WHO's objectives:
WHO's goal is to distil and
disseminate knowledge and experience of energy solutions that can protect and
improve health. Specific objectives include to:
·
synthesize scientific evidence on the health risks and
benefits of energy use;
·
evaluate the effectiveness of different energy solutions and
their implementation;
·
assess the health impacts of energy, and monitor changes
over time;
·
advocate for health as a central component of energy
policies, and advise countries on how to promote health through such policies;
and
·
support cooperation on energy
and health among different sectors and stakeholders.
WHO's main partners:
WHO Regional and Country
Offices, Ministries of Health, Ministries of other sectors (e.g. transport, environment,
energy), UN organizations and other international agencies, universities,
non-governmental organizations (GTZ, ITDG/Practical Action, International Union
of Public Transport, Transport and the Environment, etc).
WHO's activities on energy and
health:
WHO particularly focuses
on three areas:
·
household energy and health;
·
transport and health; and
·
climate change and health.
Activities/Projects
·
Programme on Indoor Air Pollution: http://www.who.int/indoorair/en/
The overall aim is to reduce the burden of disease due to indoor air
pollution from household solid fuel use, in particular among children and
women. With respect to renewables, important health interventions include:
o
Less polluting use of biomass (e.g. through improved stoves
designed to reduce exposure to health-damaging pollutants and to improve fuel
efficiency), and;
o
Modern renewables (e.g. biogas, ethanol) as an alternative
to solid fuels for cooking and heating purposes.
·
Programme on Transport and Health in Developing Countries: http://www.who.int/hia/en/
o
Promotion of transport policies and investment choices
that improve public health through the reduction of air pollution, noise,
traffic injuries, and that enhance access to health services and physical
activity. These include the promotion of public transport integrated with cycling
and walking, and the use of cleaner fuels and vehicle technologies.
·
Programme on Global Environmental Change:
http://www.who.int/globalchange/en/
o
Identifies the health impacts expected from climate
change.
o
Supports the inclusion of health considerations into
strategies to abate/adapt to climate change, including in global conventions
and programmes, like those that act towards a reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions through promotion of renewable energy.
Training
·
Regional training workshops on indoor air pollution and
household energy monitoring (Central America, Africa, Asia) and workshop resources
available at http://www.who.int/indoorair/interventions/training/en/index.html.
·
Regional training workshops to estimate the burden of
disease from environmental risk factors, including indoor air pollution, and
tools available at http://www.who.int/indoorair/publications/indoorsmoke/en/index.html.
·
Tools to conduct cost-benefit analysis available at http://www.who.int/indoorair/interventions/cost_benefit/en/index.html.
·
Country and large city analysis of transport and
health.
Information
system
Access to Energy:
Activities/Projects
·
Programme on Indoor Air Pollution: http://www.who.int/indoorair/en/
o
Promotion of better access to household energy from a
health and development perspective through a switch from solid fuels to cleaner
and more efficient fuels and/or through less polluting and more efficient use
of solid fuels.
o
WHO particularly focuses on (i) documenting the health
burden of indoor air pollution and household energy, (ii) evaluating the
effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of household energy solutions and their
implementation, and on (iii) monitoring changes in household energy habits over
time.
·
Programme on Transport and Health in Developing Countries:
http://www.who.int/hia/en/
o
Promotion of transport policies and solutions that
facilitate access to goods and services while at the same time promoting health
and protecting the environment, such as public transport, walking and cycling. WHO provides
tools for assessing and monitoring the health impacts of transport policies,
particularly their impacts on poor and vulnerable populations in developing
countries (rural areas, urban dwellers, etc).
Training
·
Regional training workshops on indoor air pollution and
household energy monitoring (Central America, Africa, Asia) and workshop resources
available at http://www.who.int/indoorair/interventions/training/en/index.html.
·
Regional training workshops to estimate the burden of
disease from environmental risk factors, including indoor air pollution, and
tools available at http://www.who.int/indoorair/publications/indoorsmoke/en/index.html.
·
Tools to conduct cost-benefit analysis available at http://www.who.int/indoorair/interventions/cost_benefit/en/index.html.
·
Country and large city analysis of transport and
health.
Information
system