The climate emergency is a health emergency.
World Health Organization -
Our commitment to addressing climate change impact on patients
The climate crisis is more than an environmental issue—it's a direct and urgent health threat to the lives of millions of vulnerable groups. For EFA, addressing climate change is crucial because its effects are devastating for those with chronic respiratory diseases, allergies, and skin conditions leading to significant health risks[1].
Imagine a child with asthma gasping for air during lengthy pollen seasons[2], or an elderly person with COPD struggling to breathe amidst a combination of extreme temperatures and air pollution[3]. Think of a patient with atopic eczema or chronic dermatitis experiencing painful flare-ups due to increased heat and humidity[4]. Consider a low-income family dealing with a mouldy home due to repeated flooding, and the allergy symptoms this can trigger[5].
These are the harsh realities faced by countless vulnerable people. The environmental manifestations of climate change - such as increased air pollution, prolonged pollen seasons, and extreme weather events like heatwaves, wildfires, and floods - are intensifying their daily struggles, leading to higher morbidity and mortality rates. The impacts are especially severe for vulnerable populations, straining healthcare systems and causing significant socioeconomic losses. [6]
Our policy objectives
In response to the urgent health threats posed by climate change, EFA launched a comprehensive multi-year Climate Change Programme in 2023. Our mission is to drive policy change, raise awareness about the urgency of addressing climate change, and ensure that the health impacts on patients with chronic respiratory diseases, allergies, and skin conditions are recognised, addressed, and prioritised at the EU and international level. Our key objectives include:
- Advocate for balanced climate strategies, with equal focus on mitigation and adaptation policies.
- Address air quality comprehensively, advocating for thorough measures that address both outdoor and indoor air quality.
- Incorporate health assessments, ensuring all climate and environmental policies include assessments of their impact on at-risk patients and the most vulnerable groups.
- Enhance climate crisis response, through improved monitoring, preparedness, and response capacities to ensure timely help for vulnerable populations during climate-driven health crises.
- Raise public awareness about the health impacts of climate-related events, particularly for sensitive groups.
Discover EFA’s detailed climate change adaptation and mitigation policy objectives and recommendations.
EFA's recent initiatives
EFA is actively involved in various initiatives and actions to implement our policy objectives and make a tangible impact:
- High-level Conferences and Forums: Active participation and contributions to the EU Clean Air Forum (November 2023) and European Commission EU Climate and Health Conference (February 2024), advocating for vulnerable groups' health.
- EP Interest Group on Allergy and Asthma event on One Health (July 2023), focusing on the health impact of bioaerosols, such as pollen, proliferated by climate change. Patients and researchers co-signed a Joint Declaration with policy recommendations for better bioaerosol monitoring.
- Participation in EU public consultations: EFA submitted views on key legislative revisions such as the EU Air Quality Directives (2019-2023) both individually and as part of the European Lung Health Group ; and the EU F-Gases regulation (2020-present), to ensure patient safety amid climate goals. EFA also contributed to the consultation on an EU Climate Adaptation Strategy (2020), emphasising the need for robust measures against climate-driven events affecting patients.
- Participation in the webinar of the EU-funded project EXHAUSTION, focusing on the impacts of extreme heat on respiratory health (January 2024). EFA highlighted the need for effective heat health action plans.
EFA’s partnerships
EFA is a trusted and active voice in various platforms, networks and initiatives, including:
- Member of Civil Society Stakeholder Forum of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), advocating for the inclusion of climate threats within HERA's scope (2022-present).
- Full member of the EU Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform (since 2021) stressing action needed to address air pollution and climate change's combined effects on human health.
- WHO Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH): Bringing patients' perspectives into discussions on climate resilience of health systems and decarbonization (since 2023).
- Observer Status at UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC)
[1] https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-people-lung-conditions-extra-climate.html#google_vignette
[2] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/subtopics/climate-change-and-asthma/
[3] https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/3/826
[4] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-023-00770-y and https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-023-00770-y
[5] https://www.lung.org/clean-air/emergencies-and-natural-disasters/floods-and-water-damage
[6] EEA Impact Assessment, p149, 2024 and https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/62/2/2201960