Health Policies

Environmental policies protecting biodiversity, reducing pollution, and mitigating climate change safeguard human health. These measures can prevent disease, improve mental and physical well-being, and lower healthcare costs across the EU in an ageing population.

Key Connections

• • Air and water quality: Healthy ecosystems act as natural filters, improving air quality by sequestering pollutants and providing clean drinking water through well-functioning catchments.
  • Zoonotic disease prevention: Biodiversity loss and habitat destruction increase the risk of zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19, by bringing humans closer to disease-carrying wildlife. At the same time, shrinking habitats force wildlife into proximity with domestic livestock and urban areas, exposing them to new pathogens. This two-way interaction exacerbates disease transmission risks, creating a feedback loop threatening human and animal health.
  • Personal health and green spaces: Access to green spaces and nature has proven benefits for mental and physical health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in urban populations.

Facts

• • Air pollution: Poor air quality, exacerbated by habitat loss and climate change, is the single most significant environmental health risk in Europe, contributing to an estimated 400,000 premature deaths annually.
  • Water-related diseases: Pollution from agriculture and urban runoff threatens drinking water quality, increasing risks of waterborne diseases.
  • Mental health: Studies show that regular access to green spaces can reduce the prevalence of mental health disorders by up to 20%, highlighting the importance of urban biodiversity.

State of Health in Europe – EEA

Action

Investing in ecosystem restoration and pollution reduction has direct and measurable health benefits. Policies like the European Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 promote nature-based solutions, from urban green infrastructure to wetland conservation, as cost-effective ways to protect health and prevent disease. Public awareness and cross-sector collaboration will make health and environment policies work together.