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Summary Notes: Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) recommends against Canada ratifying the TPP, asserting that climate change is a global health emergency requiring a low-carbon transition and the retention of 80% of fossil fuel reserves. CAPE expresses concern that TPP 'Technical Barrier to Trade' provisions and the use of investment lawyer tribunals to determine 'legitimate' public welfare objectives could prioritize trade over environmental health. Additionally, the document warns that the extension of pharmaceutical patents under the TPP would hinder generic competition and increase costs for Canadians and people worldwide.
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Document type: Statement
CAPE Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) expresses concern that the TPP's legal frameworks, specifically Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) provisions, may limit Canada's ability to implement essential climate mitigation and public health policies. The statement highlights risks such as corporate lawsuits over fossil fuel restrictions, increased pharmaceutical costs due to extended patents, and the potential for trade tribunals to override the precautionary principle in environmental health decision-making.
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Document type: Statement
Action on AMR Can’t Wait
The document highlights the immediate threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), noting that the CDC estimates 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths annually in the US. It identifies key drivers of AMR, including the over-prescription of antibiotics, a lack of pharmaceutical research into alternatives, and the use of antibiotics for livestock growth. A significant emphasis is placed on pharmaceutical pollution in India and China, where high concentrations of antibiotics in water sources create reservoirs of resistance that can be exported globally.
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Document type: Briefing
1.letter-to-ministers-mckenna-philpott-and-bennett-re-pacific-northwest-lng-health-impact-assessment-september-2016-1064f6bf1005b856.pdf
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other health professionals argue that the Pacific Northwest LNG Project should be rejected because its environmental assessment fails to fully consider human health impacts. They highlight that the project's emissions would consume a significant portion of British Columbia's 2050 carbon budget, contradicting the Paris Agreement. Additionally, they cite evidence of local health risks from hydraulic fracturing, including groundwater contamination and reproductive toxicity, and express concern over the psychological distress ('solastalgia') and treaty rights violations affecting Indigenous communities, specifically the Blueberry River First Nations.
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Document type: Statement
REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PARTICIPATE AS A STAKEHOLDER IN THE HIGHVELD PRIORITY AREA MULTI-STAKEHOLDER REFERENCE GROUP MEETINGS
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and groundWork are urging the South African Department of Health to join the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group (MSRG). They argue that the Department of Health's involvement is critical given the severe health burden caused by air pollution in the HPA, particularly from Eskom's coal-fired power stations. The document cites data suggesting thousands of premature deaths and significant IQ loss due to mercury emissions, as well as the economic costs of these health impacts, to justify the need for health officials to collaborate on air quality solutions.
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Document type: Statement
Breathing in the benefits
The report argues that an accelerated phase-out of coal power in Alberta would significantly reduce premature deaths, emergency room visits, and asthma episodes, while providing billions in socio-economic value. By extrapolating data from Environment Canada's Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS), the authors demonstrate that a stepwise transition proposed by the Pembina Institute would more than double the health benefits of the 2012 federal regulations between 2015 and 2035.
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Document type: Report
Comunidades Latinas en Riesgo
The report finds that millions of Latinos in the US are disproportionately exposed to toxic air pollutants and ozone from oil and gas infrastructure, leading to significant health burdens. It highlights that 1.81 million Latinos live within a half-mile of such facilities and 1.78 million live in counties where cancer risks exceed EPA concern levels. The document argues that poverty and lack of health insurance exacerbate these risks, and calls for the EPA to regulate existing facilities, not just new ones, to protect public health and address climate change.
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Document type: Report
Latino Communities at Risk
The report finds that millions of Latinos are exposed to toxic air pollutants and ozone smog from oil and gas facilities, leading to elevated cancer risks and childhood asthma attacks. These health threats are exacerbated by higher poverty rates and lower health insurance coverage within Latino populations. The authors argue for comprehensive EPA regulations covering both new and existing oil and gas infrastructure to reduce methane and toxic emissions.
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Document type: Report
ARZNEIMITTELRESISTENZ DURCH DIE HINTERTÜR
The document examines how the pharmaceutical industry contributes to the global rise of 'superbugs' through the discharge of antibiotic-laden waste into the environment, particularly in China and India. It highlights a critical lack of transparency in the supply chain and argues that current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) fail to include environmental criteria. The report provides case studies of specific companies—such as NCPC, CSPC, and Aurobindo—linked to environmental violations and calls on German health authorities (BfArM) and procurement bodies (BVBG) to integrate environmental and AMR criteria into their licensing and purchasing processes to prevent the further spread of drug-resistant bacteria.
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Document type: Report
Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Tanzania
The report identifies climate change as a significant threat to Tanzania's development due to rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and altered precipitation patterns. While the government has established institutional structures and strategies, the report emphasizes the need for better implementation and integration of climate change into sectoral policies, particularly in water, health, agriculture, and disaster risk reduction.
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Document type: Report
Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Botswana
The report identifies Botswana's high climate vulnerability, particularly regarding water scarcity, and highlights a critical gap in national priority and policy framework to address these threats.
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Document type: Report
Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Ghana
The report identifies agriculture, water, fisheries, energy, and health as sectors negatively affected by climate change in Ghana, with a particular emphasis on the vulnerability of the northern region. While the Government of Ghana has integrated climate risk into sectoral policies, the National Climate Change Policy and National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy are designed to provide the concrete actions missing from those documents. Current initiatives are concentrated in the agricultural sector and northern regions to support poverty reduction and economic growth. Future priorities include improving the evidence base for adaptation via monitoring and evaluation and increasing the capacity of sub-national actors and civil society networks.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency for the Health Care Sector
The report argues that climate change poses a significant threat to public health and the delivery of health services in Canada, necessitating a shift toward resilient infrastructure and sustainable practices. It highlights that Canadian hospitals are among the most energy-inefficient in OECD northern climates and face risks from extreme weather, particularly in northern and coastal areas. The document recommends investing in renewable energy, implementing Green Revolving Funds, and conducting climate resiliency assessments. It also suggests leveraging the trusted status of health professionals to drive public behavior change and utilizing institutional lands for ecosystem services to improve public well-being.
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Document type: Report
Cosmetic Pesticides – Provincial Policies & Municipal Bylaws: Lessons Learned & Best Practices
The report analyzes the landscape of cosmetic pesticide bans in Canada, evaluating the effectiveness of various provincial and municipal regulatory frameworks. It argues that the most protective laws utilize 'white lists' of approved low-risk pesticides, maintain a broad scope of coverage across all landscaping elements, and combine legal prohibitions with robust public education and enforcement. The document highlights significant gaps in jurisdictions like Alberta and British Columbia, while praising the comprehensive approaches of Ontario and Nova Scotia.
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Document type: Report
Gasping for Breath
The report estimates that oil and gas emissions will cause over 750,000 summertime asthma attacks in children under 18 across the U.S. in 2025. It identifies volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as the primary precursors to this ozone smog, noting that pollution travels far downwind to affect all 48 contiguous states. The analysis highlights Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Pennsylvania as states with the highest number of asthma attacks. To mitigate these effects, the report recommends implementing leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, replacing high-emitting pneumatic equipment, and using vapor recovery units on storage tanks.
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Document type: Report
endocrine-disruptors-criteria
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) criticizes the European Commission's June 2016 draft legal acts for Plant Protection Products and Biocidal Products Regulations. CIEL argues the proposed criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are too restrictive because they only include substances 'known to' cause adverse effects, excluding 'presumed' and 'suspected' EDCs. The document claims this high burden of proof, potentially influenced by industry lobbying and US trade concerns, fails the precautionary principle and could exclude hundreds of harmful chemicals. CIEL specifically opposes the 'negligible risk' allowance in the Plant Protection Products Regulation, advocating instead for a hazard-based approach similar to that used for carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) substances.
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Document type: Statement
Open letter to Mr. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament
The letter argues that the European Commission is ignoring European Parliament recommendations regarding public health, environmental protection, and democratic oversight in TTIP negotiations.
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Document type: Statement
Los contaminantes tóxicos del aire y la salud en la comunidad de Manchester en Houston
The document details the exposure of the Manchester community in Houston to hazardous air pollutants emitted by nearby industrial facilities, including oil refineries and chemical plants. It identifies six specific toxic substances—1,3-Butadiene, Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, Toluene, and Xylene—and describes their potential short- and long-term health effects, such as cancer and respiratory issues. The report emphasizes that this 'front-line' community, characterized by high minority and low-income populations, faces disproportionate environmental burdens and lacks the resources to hold polluters accountable.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Cambio Climático en el País Vasco: Impactos en la Salud y medidas de Adaptación
The document highlights that climate change adaptation in the Basque Country requires fluid dialogue across society and can be achieved through changes in habits and lifestyles. It notes that increased exposure to the natural environment has a positive impact on health and well-being, and that specific adaptation measures can enhance overall population resilience.
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Document type: Policy brief
Air Toxics and Health in the Houston Community of Manchester
The document highlights the exposure of Manchester, Houston residents—a predominantly minority and low-income community—to toxic air pollutants from nineteen industrial facilities. It details the specific health risks associated with six hazardous air pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act and argues for a shift in the burden of proof from the community to the polluters regarding health impacts.
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Document type: Fact sheet