Supportive Environments for Health

Abstract

The environment influences our health in many ways through exposures to physical, chemical and biological risk factors, and through related changes in our behavior in response to those factors. Globally, nearly one quarter of all deaths and of the total disease burden can be attributed to the environment. These findings have important policy implications, because the environmental risk factors can be modified by established, cost-effective interventions. The process of building an intersectoral approach, which recognizes all facets of a community, helps in both making and implementing a LEHAP. Coordinated actions can promote development strategies with multiple social and economic co-benefits, in addition to global health gains, both immediate and long term. Repositioning the health sector to act more effectively on preventive health policies, while enhancing intersectoral partnerships, is thus critical to addressing the environmental causes of disease and injury, and achieving better health for all. Our case study presents an example of intersectoral approach that resulted in a successful implementation of measures at different levels in local community to reduce air pollution in the urban area of Celje.