Web-accessible directories for policy relevant questions

Web-accessible directories for policy relevant questions

Policymakers and stakeholders often seek answers to practical questions, including the following.

• How are environment and health linked?
• How many people does this hazard or risk affect?
• What kinds of "good practice" strategies have been used successfully elsewhere?
• What does this problem cost in economic terms; and what would alternative policies cost, or save in money and lives?
• Where can I obtain guidance on taking action and training for professionals who want to learn more?
• What resources exist for advocacy and participatory/community-based action?
• What kind of data is there regarding trends and indicators in this area?
• What international laws, conventions or strategies govern or guide action?

Links just below, and in the right-hand navigation column, take you to policy briefs and directories of web-accessible resources aimed at responding to such questions, by priority risk area. Maps portraying estimated disease burden or environmental disease burden, and its global distribution, also are provided by area of priority risk. These maps are based on World Health Organization burden of disease estimates, as reported in the World Health Report, and noted in the references of each priority risk section.
Links to programmes and portals sponsored by the World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and other United Nations agencies or affiliates, also are provided by priority risk area, as are selected links to other organizations, e.g. development agencies, academic/research and government/civil society institutions (see selection criteria).
In certain categories specific "problems" of topical relevance to developing countries have been identified for special focus, e.g. malaria in the category of vector-borne disease; agro-chemicals in the category of toxics.

Links to PRIORITY RISKS

• Vector-borne disease
• The urban environment
• Indoor air pollution and household energy
• Water, health and ecosystems
• Climate change
• Toxic substances