8.4 Conclusion

The change patterns show that the performance of countries across the WHO European Region is very diverse and may vary greatly depending on the inequality considered. This suggests that the causes of inequalities, as well as the related solutions, can be different from country to country, requiring national analysis leading to countryspecific policies and target-setting – especially for those indicators that show an increasing inequality gap within the country (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2019). As well as the mixed results for many indicators, however, the change patterns present some success stories and some challenges that relate to the majority of countries within the Region. Countries can use these success stories to understand and learn how to define political priorities and policies tackling environmental health inequalities effectively. On the other hand, environmental noise, energy poverty and the related issues of home heating and indoor dampness represent priorities for environmental justice across the Region, requiring urgent action.

References

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WHO Regional Office for Europe (http://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/environmental-healthinequalities-in-europe.-assessment-report, accessed 25 March 2019).

WHO Regional Office for Europe (2019). Environmental health inequalities in Europe: second assessment report.

In: WHO/Europe [website]. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe (http://www.euro.who.int/en/

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