In 2002, Margot Wallström,1
then European Commissioner for the Environment, stressed that children’s
health and environment needed to be high on the political agenda. Political attention to environmental and
health matters culminated in the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in Budapest,
Hungary in June 2004. Here, the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe was agreed at the
highest political level, setting the scene for national action and implementation.