Environment and health: the European Charter and commentary: first European conference on environment and health, Frankfurt, 7–8 December 1989

The First European Conference on Environment and Health, held in Frankfurt-am-Main on 7 and 8 December 1989, brought together ministers and other senior representatives from the environment and health administrations of 29 European countries and from the Commission of the European Communities. The Charter, which was adopted by the final session of the Conference, is a further extension of the European health for all policy and targets adopted by the 32 Member States of the European Region of WHO in 1984. The Charter also incorporates the basic philosophy of the World Commission on Environment and Development, and represents a major step forward in the development of both public health and environmental policies at a time when political change is greatly enhancing cooperation among Member States throughout Europe. By adopting the Charter, the governments of Europe have taken a united position on the basic principles, mechanisms and priorities for further developing environmental health programmes. This book combines the Charter and the Commentary, an explanatory text originally provided as background for delegations to the Conference and thereafter given wider dissemination at their request.