Health and the Environment
The mandate of WHO’s Health and the Environment programme is to support Member States to improve health outcomes linked to environmental risks such as:
- Unsafe water and inadequate sanitation
- Poor indoor and outdoor air quality
- Exposure to toxic or hazardous waste and chemicals
- Climate change
WHO aims to enhance capacity in countries through regional technical networks of experts and partners, intercountry sharing of good practices, research, policies and action on environmental and occupational hazards to health, and strengthening environmental surveillance and information systems. Emphasis is placed on enabling strengthened collaboration between health and environment sectors. Desired outcomes include strengthened national capacity to undertake environmental health risk assessment and appropriate multisectoral responses (e.g. laws, regulations, policies, plans, and programmes) to increase resilience to climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
