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News Release: Canada Invests $3 Million in Better Knowledge and Action on Health and the Environment

JOHANNESBURG, August 30, 2002 - Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson today announced the Canadian investment of $3 million in a new global initiative for better public policies linking human health and the environment.

"Consistent with our goals here at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, we are moving forward to deal with a priority — addressing the linkages between health and environment," said Minister Anderson. I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is making a $3 million contribution to bring together up-to-date research on how environmental factors, such as specific water or air quality issues, affect human health. Experts from around the world will collaborate to assess the evidence and bring it together. They will pay special attention to environmental health impacts affecting children and other vulnerable groups.

A key to the new "Strengthening Health and Environment Linkages: From Knowledge to Action" initiative will be to assess how information on health and environment linkages is turned into more effective public policies. Through an active communication process, Canada's goal is that decision-makers use the information to better address those environmental factors that influence specific health priorities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have expressed support for the initiative. In addition, discussions are taking place with other countries to expand the partnership behind this initiative.

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization indicated that the WHO would contribute technical expertise to the initiative. "Increased availability of evidence on the links between people's health and their environments will improve the capacity of policy-makers to choose between different policy options. We are pleased that this new initiative will enable better access to such evidence within developing countries. We expect it to stimulate concerted action for healthier people and sustainable development."

United Nations Environment Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said that UNEP will also lend support to this initiative. "A healthy environment is fundamental for a healthy population," he said. "By increasing understanding of the environmental factors that most affect people, policy makers will have the guidance they require to take targeted actions. Canada is to be congratulated for this commitment."

"The world's countries have agreed that the Plan of Implementation from the World Summit on Sustainable Development has to call for better linkages between health policies and environmental policies," said Minister Anderson. "Canada is making a concrete response to that commitment and we look forward to working with others to make this initiative even more effective."

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is leading Canada's delegation to the World Summit on Sustainable Development during the High-Level Session. He is being supported by Environment Minister Anderson, International Cooperation Minister Whelan and Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) (Francophonie) Denis Paradis. At WSSD, Canada is focusing on four key areas: health and environment; partnerships; African development; and international sustainable development governance.

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Related Document:

• An Initiative to Help Address Environmental Threats to Human Health
  [backgrounder, 2002-08-30]

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