Global Voices 2025 is an international campaign by the European Lung Foundation (ELF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) that gave people with lung conditions, and those who support them, a platform to share their experiences.
Participants were invited to submit a photo and a short quote about their life and respiratory health, whether they are a patient, caregiver, family member or healthcare professional. The campaign also welcomed submissions from anyone affected by breathing-related challenges, such as air pollution, workplace exposures or inequalities in healthcare access, even without a formal lung diagnosis.
The campaign brought together 200 people from more than 30 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. Every photograph and quote form a global display of strength, resilience and community, reminding us that lung health affects us all.
Many of the campaign’s submissions came from people living with at least one lung condition and they shared how their daily lives are shaped by lung disease. They were joined by healthcare professionals, lung health advocates and caregivers, creating a powerful mix of voices and perspectives and giving insight into the wider world of lung health.
The most common conditions featured in the campaign included Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma and bronchiectasis. Others shared their experiences with rare conditions like lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis and Alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency.
| Lung condition | Count |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD / EPOC / BPCO) | 45 |
| Other (unspecified) OR advocacy-related submission | 30 |
| Asthma | 14 |
| Pulmonary hypertension | 12 |
| Pulmonary fibrosis and ILD | 12 |
| Bronchiectasis | 12 |
| Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) | 12 |
| Other rare conditions | 8 |
| Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency | 6 |
| Lung cancer | 4 |
| Sarcoidosis | 3 |
| COVID-19 OR Long COVID | 3 |
| Cystic fibrosis | 2 |
| Allergic rhinitis (hayfever) | 2 |
| Emphysema | 2 |
The total number of lung conditions present counts only unique submissions and will not include any additional counts for individuals who submitted more than once.
The submissions have been shared widely in 2025, including at an event during the United Nations General Assembly ‘Lung health matters – accelerating progress towards UN NCD targets’, where ELF highlighted the global impact of respiratory diseases and the importance of lung health in public health discussions.
Global Voices 2025 was featured in the ERS Congress 2025 programme during the session ‘Respiratory Healthcare Around the Globe’ through video. The session explored the global impact of respiratory diseases, early-life factors affecting lung health and strategies for prevention. Beyond the session, the campaign was on display throughout the Congress in the World Village, with a dedicated wall showcasing submissions from participants worldwide, while selected stories appeared on slides across multiple sessions, highlighting the campaign’s wide reach and impact.
Although Global Voices 2025 has now closed, ELF and ERS are already planning the next phase for 2026. The campaign will continue to give patients and caregivers a platform to share their experiences, showing not just the challenges of living with a lung condition but also what helps people manage their condition and live well.
Next year’s ERS Congress theme, United for better breathing: partnership between patients, clinicians and researchers, will support an evolution of the campaign. It will focus on working together to shape care, listening to what patients really need and bringing patients, clinicians and researchers together to improve lung health.
Global Voices will continue to connect the worldwide lung health community, raising awareness, supporting advocacy and inspiring action.
