Youth voices represented at the Global Climate and Health Summit in London

Ed Powell, Chair of the European Lung Foundation (ELF) Youth Group, recently joined experts and leaders from around the world at the Global Climate Change and Health Summit, hosted by The Physiological Society in London. The event brought together global perspectives to tackle one big challenge: how to better link climate action with protecting people’s health.

Reflecting on the summit, Ed said:

“The Global Climate Change and Health conference in London was an amazing opportunity to bring together great minds to try and take a more joined up inter-disciplinary action against climate change, being acutely aware of the impact of climate change on health and how the two are related. It was great to meet many professionals from many different countries and sectors, collaborating with people with different expertise makes actions so much stronger as different point of views can be considered and acted upon.”

The two-day summit featured inspiring talks from global leaders, including speakers from the World Health Organization (WHO), The Lancet Countdown, the UK Climate Change Secretary and members of the UK Committee on Climate Change.

Sessions focused on urgent health topics with air pollution emerging as a key health risk especially for young people and those with lung conditions.

On the second day, attendees took part in roundtable discussions, working in small groups to identify the biggest climate-related health challenges and think of practical solutions to increase awareness and preparedness.

Bringing together diverse perspectives, many groups found common ground, sharing ideas that will be published later this year. A recurring theme was the importance of including underrepresented voices in climate conversations. This was seen as essential for meaningful, inclusive progress.

Looking ahead

The summit also marked the launch of the Climate and Physiological Resilience Network, aimed at connecting people and sharing updates on this important topic. For Ed and many others, the event was a chance to build connections with peers worldwide, reinforcing a shared commitment to keeping health central in climate action.