icon
Close
My ERS
icon
icon

Home Events Respiratory health risks in the era of increased climate change and natural disasters

Respiratory health risks in the era of increased climate change and natural disasters

Preparing EU citizens for current and future challenges of extreme weather events

17 March, 2025 | 09:30 to 17:30 CET | The Hotel, Brussels

About this event

The effects of climate change pose many risks to respiratory health. We must prepare as much as possible for the future and minimise those risks.

This event will be led by ERS Environment and Health Committee Chair, Dr Ulrike Gehring. ERS welcomes respiratory health/environmental experts, policymakers, patient organisations, civil society, research and healthcare professionals to join us in addressing this important topic and to discuss policy recommendations which prioritise the health of EU citizens.

Programme

The full day programme is split into four overarching sessions, each with sub presentations from expert speakers and/or panel discussions.

  • Session one: From earthquakes to flames: the respiratory risks of extreme weather events and natural disasters
  • Session two: Under pressure: how extreme weather events put respiratory health at risk
  • Session three: The invisible threat: respiratory impacts of a changing climate
  • Session four: Mitigation and adaptation: which climate and health policies are needed to face the emergency?

View the programme in full.

How to register

This is a free-to-attend, in-person event. It is open to health and environment stakeholders, policymakers, NGOs, scientists, doctors, and epidemiologists.

If you would like to join us, you can register now. Please note that spaces are limited and attendance is not guaranteed until you have received a confirmation email.

Background for this event

Climate change effects have a damaging impact on human health and in particular on respiratory health. The European Respiratory Society (ERS) outlined the climate change occurrences which cause clear and major threats to respiratory patients worldwide, in a statement published in September, 2023.

Alongside outlining the threats, the statement calls for health to be central to the development of climate change mitigation strategies and air pollution reduction policies. ERS urged support from the professional respiratory community to advocate for the protection of our planet and for the health of people that live and depend on it.

As the USA reneges on its commitments to the Paris climate agreement, scales back the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) and as it is expected to exit the World Health Organization, it is more important than ever to keep European decision makers focused on tackling climate change and its health effects.

This year sees the publication of the Natural Disaster and Respiratory health series in the European Respiratory Journal, and the creation of the ERS led Stakeholder Network focused on climate change and health. In this context, the Environment and Health Committee wishes to expand on the ambitions of the ERS statement and the natural disaster work and explore ways that concrete policy recommendations can be made in the context of the increasing threat of climate effects on respiratory health.

Practical information:

Location: The Hotel, Boulevard de Waterloo 38, 1000 Brussels

Date and time: 17 March, 2025 | 09:30 to 17:30 CET