Scotland Europa Paper 34 - Health and the Environment - A Positive Approach

This Think Piece was born from a recent innovative policy initiative from Scotland Europa Member, Scottish Natural Heritage. The articles that follow contain policy reflections from representatives of NHS Health Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The authors discuss how a positive approach to health and surroundings has brought about marked benefit to various sectors in Scotland.

Initiatives that focus on the importance of positive environment are already being implemented in Scotland. The establishment, protection and promotion of such beneficial natural environments have had, and will continue to have a vital impact on the health of the Scottish people. In the texts that follow, we look at both the evidence behind this policy and the methods for policy implementation. We learn that good environments significantly benefit well-being where the complex relationship between environment and health is understood. It is hoped that the articles within this Think Piece provide ‘food for thought’ for other Member States as well as EU policy-makers.

The issues raised in this Think Piece are timely in that the European Commission is now planning its next steps in EU environment and health policy. New initiatives that give equal weight to pollution mitigation and positive environment policy could act as a catalyst towards meeting European environment and health strategy objectives. With the next European action plan on environment and health due to be launched early next year, we face a real opportunity to take this positive approach forward in 2010.