Children's environmental health

Regional pilots


North America

Lead agency

Participating countries

Canada, Mexico, United States of America

Status

Feasibility study completed. Data collection from October to December 2003. Preparation of report during 2004 and 2005. Report launched on 26th January 2006 in Montreal, Canada.

Development of indicators of children’s health and the environment

The indicators initiative is among the actions called for in the CEC’s Cooperative Agenda for Children’s Health and the Environment in North America, adopted by the CEC Council in June 2002. A feasibility study was completed in late 2002, and a set of recommendations was issued by the Steering Group and adopted through Council Resolution 03-10 in June 2003. The Steering Group recommended 12 indicators as a starting point, based on availability of data and other criteria. The group also suggested a flexible approach that builds on existing data and allows for improvement and increased comparability over time. The WHO suggested methodology was used as the starting point. The twelve agreed indicators are in the following three areas: asthma and respiratory disease and children’s health, the effects of lead and other toxic substances on children’s health, and waterborne diseases and children’s health. The report was launched on 26th January 2006.

The CEC, in partnership with the International Joint Commission (IJC) Health Professionals Task Force, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States, is undertaking the development of indicators of children's health and the environment in North America. The overall objective of this project is the development and periodic publication of a core set of indicators of environmental influences on children's health in North America in order to measure and promote change. It is anticipated that this North American project will contribute to global efforts in this area, including the global initiative on children’s environmental health indicators, launched at the World Summit for Sustainable Development and jointly led by WHO and UNICEF.

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