根據上週在曼谷舉辦的會議指出，每年在南亞有至少660萬人死於環境污染，而這個數字相當於該區總死亡人數的25%。亞洲各國的部長均同意環境與衛生官員執行相關計劃，以降低這個數字。
過去50年來，南亞因為快速工業化、都市化及大量汽機車成長，導致環境污染的急遽惡化。
官員們承認，這些後果包括都市的空氣污染、大量製造固體和有害廢棄物，而因人類活動所造成的災難與緊急事件更是不勝枚舉。
此次在曼谷舉辦的部長級區域性環境與衛生論壇，是由聯合國世界衛生組織(WHO)與聯合國環境規劃署(UNEP)共同組織。Shigeru Omi是世界衛生組織的西太平洋區執行長。Omi表示：「假如我們有決心去扭轉現有趨勢，這個區域因環境惡化所導致的高死亡人數一定可以避免。」
這個會議的目的在強化東南亞、東亞及整個區域負責環境與健康事務部長們之間的合作關係。
在上週為期2天的會議中，各國部長與資深官員共同制訂了「環境暨健康曼谷宣言」。
而隨附的區域規章中明確指出在未來3年需要共同政策與計劃的6個環境暨健康優先項目。包括：
‧空氣品質
‧水資源供應、保健與衛生
‧固體及有害廢棄物
‧有毒化學物質及危險物質
‧氣候變遷、臭氧層破壞及生態系變化
‧偶發事件因應計劃、環境健康緊急事件的準備與因應
曼谷宣言提供了一個機制使得知識與經驗得以交流，並且可以在國家層級與區域層級上改善政策與法規的架構，進而鼓勵整合性的環境與健康策略及法規的制定。
At least 6.6 million people die each year in southern Asia due to environmental factors - about 25 percent of all deaths in the region, according to the World Health Organization. Meeting in Bangkok last week, ministers from across the region agreed with environmental and health officials on a plan to reduce that number.
Over the last 50 years, environmental pollution in southern Asia has intensified due to rapid industrialization, urbanization and motorization.
The result has been urban air pollution, the generation of solid and hazardous wastes, as well as numerous disasters and emergencies created by human activities, the officials acknowledged.
"The region's high death toll from environmental degradation can be avoided if we are determined to reverse the current trend," said Shigeru Omi.
Omi is Western Pacific director of the UN World Health Organization, WHO, which jointly organized the First Ministerial Regional Forum on Environment and Health in Bangkok with the UN Environment Programme, UNEP.
The meeting was aimed at strengthening cooperation between ministries responsible for environment and health within Southeast and East Asian countries and across the region.
At the two-day meeting last week, ministers and senior officials adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Environment and Health.
The accompanying regional charter identified six environmental and health priorities for joint policies and programs over the next three years:
‧air quality
‧water supply, hygiene and sanitation
‧solid and hazardous waste
‧toxic chemicals and hazardous substances
‧climate change, ozone depletion and ecosystem change
‧contingency planning, preparedness and response to environmental health emergencies
The Bangkok Declaration provides a mechanism for sharing knowledge and experiences, improves policy and regulatory frameworks at the national and regional level, and promotes the implementation of integrated environmental health strategies and regulations.
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