29 June, 2023
The European Respiratory Society has been awarded the ‘Engaged for Impact’ label from the international climate protection foundation myclimate. This label signifies that ERS has taken actions to improve the sustainability of the Society and its associated activities, alongside contributing financially to climate improvement projects globally.
ERS partnered with myclimate in 2022, to begin an important process of measuring emissions and evaluating areas for improvement, as well as considering the positive social impacts ERS already makes as part of its work.
“We are a Society fully committed to sustainability. We know how important both social and environmental sustainability is and we want to ensure we do everything we can to demonstrate this commitment and own our part in making positive contributions and changes,” said Carlos Robalo Cordeiro, ERS President.
“By partnering with myclimate, we have been able to perform important assessments relating to our impact. What this will give us moving forward is a marker for improvement. It is an important first step of many.”
The ‘Engaged for Impact’ label is assessed annually based on real data regarding emissions from the previous year coupled with ERS’s actions to positively impact sustainability. ERS is now working diligently, with advice from myclimate to ensure positive steps are taken over the 2023 period, including a continued contribution to high-quality climate protection projects which align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN’s SDGs).
Talking about the projects which ERS has chosen to contribute to, Prof. Cordeiro noted that the selection complements the ERS position on air quality, an area that ERS advocates for as part of ongoing work.
“We have chosen two projects which directly link to air pollution. Air quality and respiratory health go hand in hand and supporting projects which contribute to improved air quality is an opportunity to expand on work we already do in this area.”
The projects ‘Efficient Cook Stoves for Returnees in Burundi’ and ‘Forest Conservation through Efficient Cook Stoves in the Himalayas’ contribute to a reduction in household air pollution, reduced fuel consumption, which conserves forests and alleviates the chore of gathering wood, and a reduction in CO2 emissions. The projects contribute to nine and eight of the UN’s SDGs respectively.
“We are pleased to have received the ‘Engaged for Impact’ label – we are proud of it because it shows progress and commitment, but we know there is a lot still to do. We look forward to making continued progress, year by year.”