How might one best convey theimage of 13,500 children? How about 30average-size primary schools full of kids? Or 10 big movie theatres – I mean the oldtype, before shopping malls and multiplexes– full of school-age children makingnoise and popping bubble gum? Or, maybe easier, enough kids to fill 200 buses – roughly the entire public transport fleet of a mid-sized city?

Numbers are, of course, crucial for gaining clear understanding, but often fail in communicating a truly effective picture. And after hearing the latest figures announced in June by the World Health Organization (WHO), I believe that it’s essential that people see the real picture. Below are a couple of figures that should leave a strong impression.

In 2001, 13,500 children aged 14 or younger died because of poor water conditions, with most deaths occurring in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (according to the WHO’s ‘Children’s Health and the Environment in Europe: A Baseline Assessment’); and nearly 5,000 deaths per day in Europe could be prevented through environmental action (according to the organisation’s ‘Country Profiles of Environmental Burden of Disease’ report).

While it’s less difficult to picture 5,000 people, the major point made by both WHO reports is that environmental action can actually rescue many lives. For this to take place, health needs to become a key factor in policy development and decisionmaking, said Roberto Bertollini, who heads the WHO’s Health and Environment programme in Europe.

Unfortunately, different priorities and limited imaginations often manifest themselves in a reluctance to carry out immediate policy changes; and while international institutions and the EU might be capable of bringing some authorities back on track, the real power for holding governments accountable and committed to health and the environment lies in the hands of citizens. Paradoxically, the countries with the gravest problems are those which contribute the least to the monitoring process, and therefore appear least sensitive to the issues, Bertollini observed.

According to WHO reports, problems are definitely worst in the Eastern part of the continent. In order to make its findings clearer, the organisation presented detailed data for each of its 53 member countries in Europe. The data profiles the range of years of life lost in each country, and there is a four-fold variance across the WHO European region. High risk levels are reported for some countries of Eastern Europe, due to traditional risk factors (e.g. lack of clean water) and modern ones (air pollution and chemicals).

The EU’s solid record of policy commitment to the environment has been called “one of our greatest success stories” by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso. But even in the more developed West, citizens trust government less to properly care for the environment: a recent Eurobarometer survey shows that 72% of respondents favour more European-level decision making on the environment.

“The message is clear: when it comes to protecting Europe’s environment, Europeans want ‘more Europe,’” Barroso said. But let’s not suggest that he is overly optimistic. In spite of the EC head’s nod to “substantial progress to improve human health, as well as the environment,” he admits that the EU still faces major challenges, starting with climate change, biodiversity loss and “our unsustainable way of life.”

Outside the EU, the picture is not only grimmer but beyond EU influence; and as a UN body, the WHO is not supposed to point fingers at any individual country. “It is a moral obligation of governments to develop tools and legislation, to address the issues and enforce measures,” said Nata Menabde, deputy director of the WHO’s European office. A Georgian national, she acknowledged in a Vienna talk that more needs to be done in the region, but that the organisation lacks sufficient resources to take effective action.

One opportunity to involve countries outside the EU more actively in environment protection policy efforts is the forthcoming Environment for Europe ministerial conference in Belgrade. In October, ministers of environment from the pan- European region of the UN Economic Commission for Europe will get together to streamline environmental policy making.

It must be said, however, that no international conference, process or entity – not even the EU – can force governments into honouring moral obligations to health and nature protection. It’s up to each country’s own citizens to hold their own government responsible and demand action. Effective protection of environment and health is a clear litmus test for democracy and good governancein every country.