Journal Article

The 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference: One Model for Planning Green and Healthy Conferences

Burgin, Deborah, Ruckart, Perri Zeitz, Moore, Cory, Byrne, Maggie Kelly

2011

Overview

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry committed to making their 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference a model for green and healthy conferences. The conference included increased opportunities for physical activity, both as part of conference events and for transportation to the conference. In addition, conference meals were healthy and sustainably sourced. The conference also implemented intuitive, accessible recycling; online scheduling and evaluation to minimize hard-copy materials; and the purchase of carbon offsets to reduce the unwanted environmental impact of the conference. Public health professionals have an opportunity and obligation to support healthy behaviors at their events and to serve as leaders in this area. Facilitating healthy and sustainable choices is in alignment with goals for both public health and broader social issues—such as environmental quality—that have a direct bearing on public health.

• Publisher: Association of Schools of Public Health,SAGE Publications,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subject: Biological and medical sciences / Carbon / Carbon offsets / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) - standards / Computer aided scheduling / Conferences / Congresses as Topic - organization & administration / Congresses as Topic - standards / Conservation of Natural Resources - methods / Disease control / Disease models / Disease prevention / Diseases / Ecological sustainability / Emissions trading / Environment. Living conditions / Environmental conservation / Environmental Health / Environmental impact / Environmental policy / Environmental programs / Environmental quality / Environmentalism / Government agencies / Health behavior / Health care / Health planning / Health Promotion - methods / Health risk assessment / Healthy habits / Humans / Information Dissemination / Internet / Meals / Medical personnel / Medical sciences / Miscellaneous / Obligations / Physical activity / Physical fitness / Planning / Practice / PRACTICE ARTICLES / Prevention / Preventive medicine / Program Development / Public Health / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Quality of care / Recycling / Social behavior / Social issues / Sustainable agriculture / Sustainable food systems / Toxic substances / Transportation / United States