Asthma and climate change

Overview

Taking place on World Asthma Day (5 May), this live discussion focused on current and emerging issues related to climate change and asthma.

A new ERS position statement on asthma and the environment was formally launched as part of the event and presented by members of the ERS Advocacy Council. Expert panellists discussed key areas that are addressed by the statement, including:

• Effects of climate change on asthma
• The complex interplay between asthma inhalers, the respiratory patient and climate change
• “Green” inhalers and the potential for more sustainable treatment options
• Managing the environmental footprint of asthma

The panel

• Arzu Yorgancioğlu, ERS Advocacy Council Chair, Professor at the Department of Pulmonology at Celal Bayar University
• Omar Usmani, ERS Assembly 5 Head, Reader in Respiratory Medicine and Consultant Physician at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London & Royal Brompton Hospital
• Zorana J. Andersen, ERS Environment and Health Committee Chair, Professor in Environmental Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen
• Kjeld Hansen, European Lung Foundation Chair, asthma patient and patient advocate
• Maureen Donahue Hardwick, Secretariat and Legal Counsel of the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium
• François Wakenhut, Head of the Clean Air Unit in the Directorate-General For Environment, European Commission