19 November, 2025
ERS highlighted the health and economic benefits of tighter European Union (EU) air quality regulations at a COP30 side event organised by the World Health Organization earlier this week.
The Society’s Advocacy Council Chair Prof. Barbara Hoffmann addressed policymakers, political leaders and health experts during Demonstrating health and economic co-benefits of climate mitigation, which took place at the WHO’s COP30 Health Pavilion alongside the main COP meeting in Belém, Brazil.
Prof. Hoffmann reiterated the inextricable link between air pollution and climate change – detailing the significant health and economic impacts of air pollution while also underlining the ways in which air quality improvements deliver climate benefits as well as cumulative health benefits.
Prof. Hoffmann focused on the example of the 2024 revision of the EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) as a recent commitment by policymakers to reduce the health and economic burden of air pollution in Europe.
Epidemiology expert Prof. Hoffmann highlighted that:
- Poor air quality is attributed to around 300,000 premature deaths every year in Europe alone;
- It costs the European economy around €20 billion in direct costs to healthcare, lost working days and losses of crops;
- It causes between €330–940 billion in indirect costs;
- It decreases labour productivity and increases social inequities.
However, Prof. Hoffmann then highlighted the clear benefits of clean air regulation – such as the EU AAQD’s revision – which carry a total net economic benefit of €115 billion per year according to the European Commission’s Impact Assessment Report 2022.
Prof. Hoffmann said:
“The health and economic benefits of tighter air quality regulations are clear and evident.
“For years, experts including those from ERS engaged directly with policymakers in Europe regarding the revision of the EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directive – with tighter restrictions on air pollution finally agreed and subsequently published in the official journal of the EU in November 2024.
“The benefits of the EU AAQD’s revision are obvious and will be felt for generations to come. Plus, in addition to the health and economic impacts, this change will also deliver climate benefits – which in turn will provide wider societal improvements, such as climate resilience.
“Air pollution is very expensive – in times of strained budgets and resources, we simply cannot afford it any more. I hope that political leaders and policymakers around the world are encouraged to follow Europe’s example soon.”
View the session recording on the WHO website (Day 7, COP30 – Session 34).
Learn more about ERS environment and health advocacy activities.