Environmental Health in Europe: Uncertainties, Realities, and Perceptions

Abstract

To combat environment and health problems in the European Region, an Environmental Health Action Plan for Europe has been developed, dealing with priority problems in countries and on a Region-wide level. The basic principle underlying the proposed plan is that while the long-term environmental health goal is the same for all Member States—reaching the WHO regional Health For All targets—countries will progress toward this common goal from different starting points and at different rates, as they have at present such different environmental health priorities and resources. This paper discusses the important components of the WHO plan and how it can be achieved.