5 November, 2025
ERS urged political leaders and policymakers to prioritise climate change, childhood health and healthy ageing in strategies to advance respiratory health in Europe at a major WHO conference in Copenhagen, Denmark last week.
Led by Advocacy Council Chair Elect Prof. Zorana J. Andersen, the Society took part in crucial discussions about the future of health for all Europeans at the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.
The meeting marked an important opportunity for WHO, ERS and partner organisations to encourage Member States to support the promotion and prioritisation of an integrated lung health approach, following the adoption of the lung health resolution adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) earlier this year.
A number of topics high on the ERS agenda were debated at the meeting – with prevention, childhood and adolescent health, and healthy ageing chief among them.
During a key discussion on childhood health, Prof. Andersen made a verbal intervention to directly address policy makers and urge them to support a focus on childhood respiratory health, emphasising the threat posed to children’s lungs by risk factors such as environmental degradation and climate change.
In her address, Prof. Andersen also highlighted that over 96% of people in Europe – including children – breathe unhealthy air according to the WHO Air Quality Guidelines. Prof. Andersen underlined the impact of early-life exposure to air pollution and climate-related health hazards, which can have lifelong consequences on lung development and wellbeing.
Prevention of respiratory diseases is a topic high on the ERS agenda following the release of the first joint WHO/Europe-ERS report into chronic respiratory diseases in the WHO European Region. The report revealed that CRDs are overlooked, under diagnosed and poorly managed across Europe – and that their impact on health systems is vastly underestimated.
At the event, Prof. Andersen also highlighted the importance of continuing to collaborate with partners such as the WHO to guide future health strategies.
Prof. Andersen said: “ERS has consistently highlighted the critical connection between air pollution, climate, and respiratory health. Now, we also see clear evidence of the adverse effects of air pollution and climate on all major NCDs, and mental health, throughout the life span.
“We must ensure that climate and environmental factors are fully integrated into all aspects of health policy, giving priority to addressing cross-border health inequalities through joint collaboration.”
Read the full ERS statement submitted for the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.
Learn more about ERS advocacy activities in environment and health