[sustran] European Forum on Transport, Environment and Health

[Paul Barter]

This came through on the  A SEED Europe Transport Mailinglist. I hope it is
of wider interest beyond Europe.



WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION    REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA
                              FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENT,
European Centre for  YOUTH AND FAMILY AFFAIRS
Environment and Health

To all Member States
of the European Region

Dear Sir, Madam,

                        Invitation to the
European Forum on Transport, Environment and Health.
28 - 31 July 1998, Vienna, Austria
HOFBURG, Grosser Redoutensaal, Entrance Josefsplatz,  A - 1010 Vienna

     The World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe
(WHO/EURO) and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Environment, Youth
and Family Affairs have the honour to invite you to participate in
the "European Forum on Transport, Environment and Health".  The
forum will be held from 28 to 31 July 1998 in Vienna under the
auspices of the Austrian Presidency of the EU and as part of the
preparation for the WHO 3rd Ministerial Conference on Environment
and Health and its Transport, Environment and Health session, for
which Austria has volunteered as a Lead Country.

The "European Forum on Transport, Environment and Health" will
comprise two parts:

1. International Conference on the Environment Related Health
Impacts of Transport

    The conference will bring together eminent international
authorities on the environment related health impact of transport:
scientists and doctors, policy makers and other stake-holders on
transport environment and health, as well as delegations from
WHO/EURO Member States, intergovernmental organizations and
international agencies, NGOs, industry and others.  Recent
scientific evidence and their policy implications will be
presented.

The conference should provide a strong input to the
integration of health aspects within the Transport and Environment
Policies in Europe and in particular to the 3rd Ministerial
Conference of WHO on Environment and Health.

2. Preparatory Meeting for the "Transport, Environment and Health"
Session at the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
to be held in London in June 1999.

    This is the first preparatory meeting of Member States from
the WHO European Region for the special session on transport-
related issues, strategies and actions that will be debated at the
Conference.  In particular a "Charter on Transport, Environment and
Health" is being proposed for adoption at that Conference.

The proposed Charter includes principles, targets and a plan
of action for achieving health and environmental gain through
transport policies.  It draws on assessments of the links between
transport environment and health being carried out by international
expert groups, as well as on policy and economic analyses and on
national case studies.  A first draft will be discussed at the
preparatory meeting in Vienna, which will be attended by
representatives of the WHO European Region Ministries of
Environment, Health and Transport and representatives of
intergovernmental organizations and invited NGOs.

Information regarding participation and organisation

    We have pleasure in inviting you to participate in the
European Forum on Transport, Environment and Health in Vienna. A
preliminary agenda of the events is enclosed. Please nominate the
participants for the European Forum and take note, that at the
Preparatory Meeting (30-31 July 1998) attendance is restricted to
two or three ministerial delegates of each WHO Member State and one
representative of each Intergovernmental Organization and NGO.

We look forward to receiving the nominations of your
delegation for the European Forum on Transport, Environment and
Health, giving the names, functional titles and addresses of the
proposed participants by 29 June 1998 at the latest.

    The working language will be English and simultaneous
interpretation into French and Russian will be provided. Travel for
delegates will be arranged and paid for by the participating Member
States, however, due to budget restrictions only limited funds are
available to support the attendance of some needy countries, if
necessary.

    We are grateful if you would kindly share this invitation with
other relevant parties in your country, to ensure the active
involvement of all interested bodies.

    Mr Carlos Dora, Programme Manager, Environmental Epidemiology
of the European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome Division,
and Ms Jutta Molterer, Division for Transport, Mobility, Regional
Planning and Noise in the Austrian Ministry for Environment, Youth
and Family Affairs, are the relevant contact officers for these
activities, and it would be appreciated if you would address your
reply directly to them (addresses as attached).

We look forward to welcoming you in Vienna.

                   Yours sincerely,

Dr Jo E. Asvall, MD              Dr Ernst Streeruwitz
Regional Director                Director General of Department I
World Health Organization        Federal Ministry for Environment
Regional Office for Europe       Youth and Family Affairs


Enclosures:
*    Addresses of the Contact Officers
*    Preliminary Agenda
*    Hotel Reservation Form
*    Copy of the map of Vienna indicating the conference location

Contact Officers:

World Health Organization     Republic of Austria
European Centre for
Environment and Health        Federal Ministry for Environment,
Rome Division                 Youth and family Affairs

Dr Carlos Dora                Ms Jutta Molterer
Programme Manager,            Division I/5
Environmental Epidemiology    Stubenbastei 5
Via Francesco Crispi, 10
I - 00187 Rome Italy          A-1010 Vienna Austria
Tel. +39 6 4877541            Tel. +43 1 515221231
Fax  +39 6 4877599            Fax  +43 1 515227208
E-mail: cdo at who.it            E-mail: jutta.molterer at bmu.gv.at

======================

      European Forum on "Transport, Environment and Health"
                       28. - 31. July 1998
        HOFBURG, Grosser Redoutensaal, Entrance Josefsplatz
                         A - 1010 Vienna

                      - Preliminary Agenda -

Tuesday, July 28 - International Conference on Environment
related Health Impacts of Transport

 13:00 -   Registration
 14:00

 14:00 -   Opening session:
 16:30     Opening Key Notes by
           the Austrian Minister for Environment Youth and
           Family Affairs
           the European Commission
           the Austrian Medical Association
           the World Health Organisation
           (ten minutes each)

           Presentation of the key scientific issues on
           transport, environment and health by invited
           international experts
           *  Air pollution and carcinogens (2 speakers,
           each 15 minutes) 10 minutes discussion
           *  Noise ( 2 speakers, each 15 minutes) 10
           minutes discussion
           *  Physical activity (walking and cycling) (1
           speaker, 15 minutes)
           5 minutes discussion

 16:30 -   Break
 16:50

 16:50 -   International perspective of key problems,
 18:00     strategies and activities for bringing
           transport in line with health and environment
           requirements, priority areas for actions

           Invited speakers:
           International Agencies / Intergovernmental
           Bodies:
           OECD, ECMT, UNEP, EEA, ECE  ( 5 bodies with 8
           minutes statements)
           NGO's:  Medical Associations, Transport and
           Environment representatives, Industry (5 NGOs
           with 5 minutes statements)

Wednesday, July 29 - International Conference on Environment
related Health Impacts of Transport

 8:30 -     Registration
 9:30

 9:30 -     Presentation of the key scientific issues on
 11:00      transport, environment and health by invited
            international experts (30 minutes each, including
            10 minutes discussion) - contd.
            *  Accidents
            *  Vulnerable groups
            *  Well-being

 11:00 -    Break
 11:20

 11:20 -    Presentation of intermediate results of case
 13:00      studies in the field of transport, environment and
            health

 13:00 -    Break
 15:00

 15:00 -    Presentation of the methodological tools and issues
 16:30      for the assessment of transport, environment and
            health links/impacts by invited international
            experts  (30 minutes each, including 10 minutes
            discussion)
            *  Exposure
            *  Integrated environmental health impact
            assessment
            *  Economic valuation

 16:30 -    Break
 16:50

 16:50 -    Presentation of the health implications of
 18:00      different transport policies by invited
            international experts
            *  Policies and strategies (30 minutes including
            discussion)
            *  Conclusions and recommendations for action (40
            minutes including discussion)

Thursday, July 30 - Preparatory Meeting for the Transport,
Environment and Health (TEH) segment at the 3rd Ministerial
Conference on Environment and Health in London 1999 ( for
nominated delegates of WHO Member States (2-3 per country),
International Governmental Organisations and invited NGOs

 8:30 -    Registration
 9:30

 9:30 -    Opening session: Co-chair Austria and  WHO
 11:00     *  Background of the WHO London Conference and
           its focus on Transport, Environment and Health
           *  Preparation process and key documents of the
           TEH session
           *  Scope and purpose of the Preparatory Meeting
           *  Discussion and approval of agenda

 11:00 -   Break
 11:30

 11:30 -   Report and Discussion on the outcome of the
 13:00     first days of the European Forum on Transport,
           Environment and Health (hot spots, priorities,
           conclusions and recommendations for action

 13:00 -   Break
 15:00

 15:00 -   Presentation of a first draft proposal for the
 16:00     Conference outcome document (Charter) on
           Transport, Environment and Health

 16:30 -   Break
 17:00

 17:00 -   Discussion (contd.)
 18:00

Friday, July 31 - Preparatory Meeting (continued)

 9:30 -    Discussion (Contd.)
 11:00

 11:00 -   Break
 11:30

 11:30 -   Summary of key conclusions
 13:00     Agreement for working plan and next steps,
           dates and venue of Preperatory Meeting