Countries across the WHO European Region have officially adopted the Budapest Declaration, pushing action to address environmental determinants impacting on public health. These global commitments align with the main goal and objectives of two transformative projects partnered by SHINE 2Europe: GreenerAge and OneAquaHealth.
The Budapest Declaration signals a commitment to comprehensive action on health challenges tied to climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, within the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 impacts. It focuses on reinforcing countries’ capacities to fulfill commitments, with an emphasis on governance, human resources, knowledge and tools for effective action.
Countries pledged to intensify efforts in preventing, preparing for, detecting, and responding to emergencies, with consideration for safeguarding vulnerable populations. These actions aim to bolster health systems’ resilience and capacity to withstand and respond to disasters and crises.
The GreenerAge project, an Erasmus+ under the coordination of Tampere University of Finland, focuses on elevating the environmental literacy of adults over 55. Through a dynamic learning platform, a compendium, a trainer manual and a policy recommendations booklet, GreenerAge aims to promote greener and more sustainable behaviours along with more active citizenship.
OneAquaHealth is a Horizon Europe project coordinated by the University of Coimbra – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE). This project builds on the OneHealth approach, to connect the health of aquatic ecosystems with human health and well-being in urban environments. A pivotal aspect of OneAquaHealth is the development of Local Stakeholders Alliances, comprising public and private organizations, policy makers, the educational community, NGOs, and industry players in 5 EU countries, to leverage environmental observations that can better inform policy-making.
The convergence of the Budapest Declaration and these transformative projects reflects a collective commitment to building resilient, sustainable communities and addressing the intricate relationship between environmental health and human well-being.