Climate change and respiratory health: a European Respiratory Society position statement

Abstract

Climate change is a major threat to lung patients, causing more frequent and extreme weather events, prolonged aeroallergen seasons, and poorer air quality. ERS calls on the health community and policymakers to act now and prepare for a complex future. https://bit.ly/3pO27Ne

Healthcare in the era of climate change and the need for environmental sustainability

“…There is now increasing awareness of the impact of healthcare on climate change and position statements addressing the climate change crisis, and proposals for mitigation have been issued by various healthcare professional organisations. [ 10 11 12 13 14 15 ] Implementation science is focused on improving the systematic uptake of evidence-based care into routine practice. Although there are various studies of interventions to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare, reports of fully scaled implementation projects to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare remain lacking.…”

“…[ 8 ] In response, the World Health Organization and professional organisations have issued recommendations for environmentally sustainable healthcare. [ 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ] Healthcare professionals can play an important role in mitigating and adapting to climate change and improving health. This can be achieved through changing practices at the individual and organisational levels to reduce GHG emissions, as well as through advocacy and engagement of important stakeholders and policymakers to shape healthcare policies and improve environmental and socioeconomic conditions.…”

Climate Change and Air Pollution: How Healthcare Providers Can Help Mitigate the Risks to Respiratory Health

“…11 "In some ways, DEP are the most concerning of the particles because of how deep they get into the lungs," Carlsten said, but extreme weather events, such as wildfires and sandstorms, also generate high levels of dangerous PM that can travel thousands of kilometres from their source over days or even weeks. 1,19,20 Indoor pollution is another important area for consideration, particularly in areas of the world that use coal or biomass fuel. Worldwide, more than three billion people use traditional cookstoves that burn wood, animal dung, or crop residues to cook food or heat water.…”

“…Climate change is happening, with the evidence clearly demonstrating an increase in global temperatures; extreme weather events; and levels of air pollution, aeroallergens, and airborne pathogens. 1,2 The complex interplay between these various factors is changing the quality and composition of the air we breathe, directly aggravating pre-existing respiratory diseases and increasing everyone's exposure to their risk factors. 3 "This is happening and we need to prepare for it," said Fan Chung, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Head of Experimental Studies Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK; and Consultant Physician at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK.…”

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 28th Conference of the Parties, Dubai (COP28): Implications for lung disease

“…Exposure to extreme heat can exacerbate respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, increasing the risk of hospitalization and death. 2,8 In recent years, unprecedented bushfires have taken place around the world, with extended continuous exposure of large populations to bushfire smoke resulting in adverse respiratory health impacts and deaths. 9 The long-term consequences of such exposure are yet to be fully understood and quantified.…”