Guidance on Integrated Environment and Health Assessment Released by United Nations
April 16, 2010
United Nations Environment Program and the Pan-American Health Organization
The United Nations Environment Program and the Pan-American Health Organization recently published a guidance document titled, "GEO Health: Methodology for Integrated Environment and Health Assessment. A focus on Latin America and the Caribbean." The foreword summarizes the report's purpose:
"GEO Health methodology offers us a guideline for carrying out an integral assessment, creating an intersectorial, interdisciplinary and participatory space where reliable scientific information can be produced and addressed to the persons responsible for policies on environment and health issues...
Today, more scientific evidence is available than at any other moment in history, showing us the distinct interrelations between ecosystemic integrity and environmental services, and human wellbeing and the quality of people's lives. This evidence of social - environmental links has begun to attract the attention of different stakeholders in our society. It is our wish that this GEO Health document, born of the intersectorial efforts of two United Nations agencies with mandates on environmental protection and vigilance over health matters, will provide the people responsible for policies regarding these matters, with a firm methodological base to design and apply future policies..."
