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The links between health and the environment
Environmental health is becoming a major preoccupation on a world-wide scale. There is a close correlation between a population's state of health and the quality of its environment. Public policies now include environmental concerns, which have strong implications in terms of development and well-being. In this context the Institut Veolia Environnement has undertaken studies to help understand the reality of this link as well as its consequences on the mid- and long-term economic and social organization of both rich and developing countries.
Studies launched by the Institute
Addressing indoor air pollution through the use of clean stoves: a randomized field experiment
Partners: Esther Duflo and Michael Greenstone, MIT, Rema Hanna, New York University
Period of study : 2007-2008
The indoor air pollution resulting from the burning of fuels is considered as a major cause of early mortality, especially in developing countries. In response, NGOs and governments have distributed improved cooking stoves to thousands of households. In India, this programme has helped collecting a great deal of information on oven use, health, employment or income. The study will use these data to measure the impact of the improved stoves in terms of exposure to indoor air pollution, impacts on health, efficiency of the subsidy programme. In addition, it will provide other researchers with a valuable body of data on health and well being in India.
The role of the media in the management of urban epidemics
Partner: Dr. Gabriel Leung, Professor in Translational public health, Department of Community Medicine and Unit for Behavioural Sciences, Université de Hong-Kong
Period of study: 2006-2007
The research will consist of an analysis of the role of both the media and the rumour in the spread and management of epidemics with particular reference to SARS in Hong-Kong. It will also attempt to shed light on what facilitates the emergence or re-emergence of epidemics in conurbations and the impact of sanitary and environmental factors on these.
Environmental decision-making: for greater health benefits
Partner: Ari Rabl, Senior Scientist, Energy Center of the Ecole des Mines de Paris, France.
Period of study: 2002-2005
The aim is to understand the methods that allow to quantify the benefits of different environmentally friendly actions and to assess their relevance for sustainable development.
The method under examination is cost-benefit analysis (CBA).
The method provides a rational explanation of the advantages of applying more or less stringent environmental standards. The explanation is intended for consumers, law-makers, regulatory authorities and civil society. The different players need to understand why regulations or standards are required, even though they are binding and imposed by national governments or, increasingly, European authorities.
Conference
Joint Institut Pasteur - Institut Veolia Environnement Conference : Education, Environment and Health, June 17-18th, 2004
Partner: Institut Pasteur / Pasteur Mediavita - Paris, France
Improving the environment appears to be a key to the health of populations. Appropriate educational endeavors bring optimal effect, playing a determining role in development. At the Johannesburg Summit in 2002, the fundamental link between access to essential services, like drinking water, waste disposal and health, lay at the heart of the discussions on sustainable development. In this context the Institut Veolia Environnement in association with the Institut Pasteur organized in June 2004 a conference on the theme «Education, Environment and Health» which brought together 24 international specialists to identify priorities and propose a program of action.
A summary of the discussions is published as : « Knowledge, the pillar of sustainable development » .
