Bridging Science and Policy on Health and Pollution: GAHP Founder's Insights at Geneva Health Forum

Richard Fuller, the founder of the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), has been invited to participate in the 2024 Geneva Health Forum. The event featured a session on the 27th of May on "Bridging science and policy on health and pollution.” The session highlighted how this resolution marked a significant milestone in addressing the health and environmental impacts of chemicals, waste, and pollution by delving into the 2022 decision by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to establish a science-policy panel (SPP) aimed at enhancing the management of chemicals and waste and preventing pollution.

Image by Geneva Health Forum, 2024

During his intervention at the Geneva Health Forum, Richard Fuller emphasized the importance of basing the chemicals/pollution agenda on impact: “We should always review the Chemicals/pollution agenda based on impact. What things cause the most damage to health and the environment? That’s where we ought to focus.”

Jacqueline Alvarez of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Océane Dayer of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, among other speakers, joined him in the discussion.

More dialogues are ongoing to define the organizational framework of the Science Policy Panel (SPP). GAHP is actively engaged in collaborative policy and advocacy efforts at global, regional, and local levels and will continue to participate in the final stage of consultations scheduled to take place in Geneva in June 2024.

ABOUT GAHP

GAHP is a collaborative body comprising over 70 members and numerous observers. We work through international and national agencies to address the global pollution crisis and its health and economic impacts.

ABOUT THE GENEVA HEALTH FORUM

The Geneva Health Forum, established in 2006 by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE), is a vital platform for stakeholders to discuss and tackle global health challenges. As a neutral and inclusive initiative, the GHF fosters dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, academia, civil society, and the private sector.