Ambient air pollution
EFA’s advocacy on European air quality and climate policy was full speed as the region discussed major legislative developments, and increased the public discussion on the climate-health impact nexus. Both individually and with allies, EFA ensured that the voice of allergy, atopic eczema, asthma and COPD patients was present in all relevant discussions.
In the revision of the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), EFA advocated for stronger EU air quality standards and improved public information to explain the health effects of exposure to air pollution. Although the AAQD adopted in October 2024 does not meet the WHO standards, the EU lowered the maximum levels of exposure short and long-term in its territory. It also included for the first time specific provisions to enable access to justice against air pollution infringements and the compensation for health damage.
EFA continued representing patients in the European Commission expert group EU Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform and attended the only full-day meeting that was held.
Invited by the European Environment Agency (EEA), EFA provided input to an EU scientific report on the environmental determinants of respiratory disease, which focuses particularly on risks such as air pollution, heatwaves, wildfires, dampness/mold and allergenic pollen.
As members of the Patient Organisations Committee of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), EFA also contributed to the Atlas on Planetary Health which is to be released soon.
EFA strengthened its links with EU health civil society active on the cause for clean air. We became a founding member of the EU Healthy Air Coalition (EUHAC), launched in April. EUHAC is a partnership that brings together patients, doctors, health insurers and public health advocates and with whom we co-signed six public letters and press releases. At EUHAC, EFA is represented by Board Member Christine Strous from the Dutch Lung Foundation.
Finally, EFA’s Senior Policy Advisor was re-elected as member of the Executive Committee of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), following our long-term commitment of advancing health and environmental policies in partnership.