Health

Velux CEO: ‘If you want the most energy efficient home, live in a cave’

Companies and lawmakers must take more responsibility in helping to solve issues related to buildings, including reducing carbon emissions and improving health standards, according to Velux CEO David Briggs.

1 in 3 children live in unhealthy homes, warns ‘alarming’ report

A third of European children live in damp, cold, dark or noisy homes, according to new findings released last week. Portugal is the worst offender in the EU, with one in two kids exposed to unhealthy conditions.

Biotechnology: Europe’s next ‘hot potato’

The discussion over the future of biotechnology in Europe heated up after the EU Court ruled in July last year that gene editing should, in principle, fall under the GMO Directive. In this special report, EURACTIV will focus on the future of biotechnology in Europe, the regulatory framework of the so-called new plant breeding techniques as well as GMOs.

Andriukaitis: 100-year old production models cannot achieve food sustainability

According to the UN, the amount of food produced globally needs to double to feed a rising world population. Policymakers are poring over ways to ensure the sustainability of food systems while emerging new technologies, promising to tackle climate change, still face resistance.

Tap water in the EU: Environmental and health considerations

Finland’s EU presidency and MEPs in the new European Parliament will have to address all relevant health concerns when it comes to drinking water rules if they want to pass the historic first citizen-led EU legislation in the next term.

Healthy homes: ‘The biggest health and business opportunity of a lifetime’

Indoor environment quality and healthy homes play an ever more substantial role in human wellbeing, according to new research unveiled at a high-level event last week (10 October).

Buildings and the forgotten 90%

Human beings spend on average 90% of their lives indoors. Buildings are also a huge drain on energy resources and create a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This Special Report looks deeper into the places we live and work.

Germany is a ‘developing country’ when it comes to tobacco regulation, expert says

While Germany is being branded a 'developing country' in terms of tobacco regulation, experts warn that a new wave of cancer illnesses may be related to the consumption of E-cigarettes. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Climate change leads to spread of Pneumonia-causing bacteria, expert says

A warmer climate and Europe's ageing population create a favourable breeding ground for legionella bacteria, which cause a type of pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease, Professor Martin Exner said in an interview.

Outgoing Commissioner Andriukaitis suggests disbanding EU alcohol forum

The EU Alcohol and Health Forum (EAHF), which aims to tackle alcohol-related harm, should come to an end because its stakeholders have not been able to find common ground, the outgoing EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis has said.

A ‘healthy’ vaccines ecosystem

The EU's fragmented market has created barriers for vaccines in Europe. In this Special Report, EURACTIV looks into what a “healthy vaccines ecosystem” is and how its different components could better coordinate to break silos and improve healthcare.

Le Pen’s Bulgarian ally under the spotlight for cross-border medicine trafficking

Vesselin Mareshki gained international prominence when French far-right leader Marine le Pen chose him as her political ally in Bulgaria. But things started to go wrong when Mareshki lost the European elections in May. Now, judges have recognised him as the mastermind of a cross-border network of medicine traffickers.

Germany and Netherlands sign joint declaration of intent on energy transition

Following the Dutch government's Berlin visit on Wednesday (2 October), Germany and the Netherlands signed a joint declaration of intent laying out a common energy transition plan, as well as closer cooperation in the areas of defence and asylum policy. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Alcohol could cause new EU health chief headache

The European spirits industry has called on Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner-designate for health, to revive the European Alcohol and Health Forum, which has been inactive since 2015 after twenty public health NGOs decided to pull out.

Trees for goals: the teenager playing to end deforestation

Lesein, a 15-year-old Kenyan, is one of the thousands of youngsters around the globe who have joined Greta Thunberg in her fight against climate change. He has been planting trees for every goal he scores since 2018, as his way of contributing to the fight.

Lyon football club attempts to reconcile sport with environment

Olympique Lyonnais' newly-built OL City complex has been designed to be more environmentally friendly, though it initially attracted criticism for requiring a longer commute. EURACTIV France reports.

Investigative report: Vampires without borders

A controversial alternative medicine that treats cancer patients by making them drink their own blood was denounced in Germany years ago. But in Bulgaria, a court ruled that the treatment is scientifically sound, and children are being sent to Germany for treatment, with expenses reimbursed by the state.

Measles hit Zagreb as social media join fight against anti-vaccination

Seven people have been diagnosed with measles in Zagreb in the past two weeks, raising concerns that more cases of this highly contagious virus may occur in light of the rising anti-vaccination campaigns.

Fans back call for phasing out single-use plastics from UK stadiums

A survey conducted by YouGov shows football fans support for environmental NGOs' call to clubs in the UK top four divisions to eliminate single-use plastics from their stadiums.