Environment--a new key area for Health of the Nation?

Later this month the government will be consulting on whether the environment should be adopted as a new key area for their Health of the Nation strategy. It is proposing to have five topic areas and to adopt 10-15 environmental targets. This would reaffirm its commitment to linking environmental policy and health policy following publication earlier this year of its environmental health action plan. Critics may respond to the consultation document with suggestions for more far reaching targets--based, for example, on the "Health for All" targets from the World Health Organisation, or those arising out of Agenda 21 from the earth summit in Rio De Janeiro. Whatever the criticism, this move will be a chance to link environmental and health agendas at both national and local level.