Document Index 1999-2000 Ministerial Statements Investing in our Natural and Cultural Heritage Chapter 7

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

Through the Commonwealth Government's annual contribution to the World Health Organization (WHO), Australia supports environmental health activities. The WHO Cluster on Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, has two programmes specifically aimed at improving environmental health for countries.

• The Protection of the Human Environment Programme, is active in protecting the human environment through risk assessment and standards setting in relation to issues such as food safety, water supply and sanitation, chemical safety and occupational health. In addition, the programme is involved in research on environmental health issues of global significance, for example, climate change and radiation. This programme also provides guidance to Australia on environmental health impact assessment and the use of supportive environments for health such as the healthy cities and healthy islands frameworks.
  
  
• The Health in Sustainable Development Programme aims to ensure that health aspects are an integral part of development policies in less-developed countries and also works on strategies to deal with the effects of globalisation.
  

WHO research and standard-setting activities are a significant consideration in setting Australian standards on environment issues.

Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care -- 02 6289 8848

In 1998-99, Australia's overseas aid programme spent over $12 million on capacity building in environmental management and institutional strengthening of environmental authorities in developing countries. This included $5 million in assistance to BAPEDAL, the Indonesian environmental protection authority, and $1 million each in assistance to environmental authorities in Vanuatu, Tonga and Papua New Guinea, as well as support for environmental institutions in the Philippines, Maldives and China.