16 April, 2024
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is asking registrants of the ERS Congress 2024 to consider donating €5 alongside their registration fee to support two climate protection projects in different parts of the world – both with a focus on clean air. ERS has pledged to double all donations made and has set itself the task of beating the amount donated in 2023.
The two projects, ‘Efficient cook stoves for returnees in Burundi’, and ‘Forest conservation though efficient cook stoves in the Himalayas’ were both selected due to their focus on clean air alongside their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Both projects are facilitated by the climate protection foundation myclimate, which ERS partnered with last year to support the Society’s goals of reducing its own negative impacts on the environment.
In 2023, 20% of all onsite delegates of the ERS Congress made a donation and though each donation was gratefully received, current ERS President Prof. Monika Gappa noted that it is a goal to beat that 20% this year and encourage more of the ERS community to participate.
“A sustainable future is a priority for ERS. We have been calculating our environmental impact as a society, and making changes to reduce it wherever we can. At the same time, we are measuring our social impact and aiming to increase our positive contributions. This donation is complementary to that initiative and we really want to see improvements year by year.”
Registration for the ERS Congress is now open. Anyone who is planning to attend this year’s event can make this optional contribution, if they wish, as part of the registration form.