Urgent call for cleaner air: ELF joins health community to improve air quality and protect public health

Call to action from the health community

Air pollution is a global health emergency that kills more than 7 million people every year. It has serious consequences for our health, especially for people with lung conditions like asthma, COPD and lung cancer. A joint call for cleaner air is seeking immediate action to reduce pollution, improve air quality and protect the most vulnerable including children, the elderly and those with long-term lung conditions. 

The World Health Organization (WHO), together with partners from the health community including the European Lung Foundation and the European Respiratory Society, is calling for urgent action to reduce pollution and make the air we breathe safer for all. Together, they are urging governments, decision-makers, donors and the private sector to commit to:

• Cut emissions and transition to clean energy, moving away from fossil fuels that are major sources of air pollution. 
• Enforce air quality standards to save lives and protect everyone’s health, ensuring that air quality guidelines are met globally. 
• Prioritise health equity by reducing pollution in low- and middle-income countries where people are most at risk and ensuring that everyone has access to clean air. 
• Strengthen monitoring and policies to track pollution levels, raise awareness, and encourage action to mitigate its impact on health.
• Increase funding to support air quality improvements, especially in the countries most affected by pollution.

These actions will help prevent thousands of diseases and improve health, especially for those with long-term lung conditions.

Pollution costs the world $8.1 trillion each year, but less than 1% of global aid is used to improve air quality in the countries that need it most. In March 2025, WHO will hold a global conference on air pollution and health, calling on governments and businesses to take action for cleaner air. 

Dimitris Kontopidis, Chair of ELF said:

“Living with cystic fibrosis, I understand how important it is to breathe clean air. Every day, I feel the impact of polluted air on my lungs and this is an issue millions of people are facing too. We can no longer ignore the consequences. Clean air should be a basic right for all and it is time we hold governments accountable to make that a reality. Let’s act, before it is too late.” 

Ed Powell (ELF Youth Group) said:

“For young people, our lungs are still developing and exposure to harmful air now will affect our health for the rest of our lives. The responsibility to protect our lungs, our health and our future lies with those in power. Clean air is a basic right and we deserve it.” 

 We all have the right to breathe clean air. Let’s act now for the health of our lungs, our communities and our future.

Read the full call-to-action and sign here:

Call to action from the health community

This call to action was jointly initiated with:

Further reading:

Learn more about air quality and lung health: Air quality

Support the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign: Healthy Lungs for Life