Theme for the 2025 World Environmental Health Day:
Ending plastic pollution
Environmental health is one of the largest fields within public health because of the myriad ways external forces can impact how people eat, live, and grow. These forces can be about addressing our natural environment (as in the case for clean water or sanitation), but they can also be the consequence of human beings’ actions.
According to World Health Organisation (2016), global environmental issues account for more than 12.6 million deaths each year. Along with the issues mentioned, include soil pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and biodiversity loss. According to the data, more than 100 illnesses and injuries can be directly linked to environmental health concerns. Often, these issues have the greatest impact on communities that are poor and already have significant health care vulnerabilities.
At least 155 states recognize their citizens have the right to live in a healthy environment, either through national legislation or international accords. Despite those protections, the World Health Organization estimates that 23 percent of all deaths are linked to “environmental risks” like land and air pollution, water contamination and chemical exposure.
The last decade was the hottest in human history and we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with wildfires, floods and hurricanes becoming regular events that threaten lives, livelihoods, and food security. Climate change also affects the survival of microbes, facilitating the spread of viruses, and expanding the range of vectors. If no action is taken, pandemics are likely to occur more frequently, spread more rapidly, have greater economic impact, and kill more people.
A primary activity of any public health strategy is information sharing. By understanding what the risks are, Environmental Health Professionals can better deploy resources to protect everyone’s health each and every day.
We look forward to the various activities and events that can be developed around this year’s theme and if there are any further developments from the IFEH, they will be communicated to promote the World Environmental Health Day (WEHD).
Further information about the theme of 2025
How to get involved
Many activities are taking place around the Globe in connection to this big event. The IFEH wants as many as possible of the events in this connection to be known. And let us be clear – it doesn’t cost any thing to get your event displayed on this site.
Just send information about your initiative to Hon IFEH Webmaster Henning Hansen webmaster@ifeh.org
GO TO OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
https://www.ifeh.org/wehd/index.html