The Healthy Lungs for Life Breathe Clean Air campaign has launched in Warsaw, marking the beginning of coordinated action on air quality and lung health in Poland.
Air pollution remains one of the most significant threats to respiratory health, contributing to conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Collective action is needed to improve air quality and protect public health. The revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive requires Member States to move closer to World Health Organization air quality guidelines by 2030, providing a clear goal for coordinated efforts.
Achieving cleaner air requires more than policy changes alone. Public awareness, community engagement, and collaboration between healthcare professionals, patients, civil society organisations, and decision-makers are essential to drive meaningful progress and ensure clean air initiatives receive strong local support.
Healthy Lungs for Life aims to create a strong network of partners and advocates who can champion cleaner air and healthier communities across Warsaw and beyond.
By working together, awareness can be increased, support for clean air policies strengthened, and lasting improvements created for lung health.
A dedicated multi-stakeholder working group is being coordinated to bring together healthcare professionals, patient representatives, civil society organisations, and city officials. The group will coordinate local clean air initiatives and support long-term collaboration.
To encourage community-led action, a micro-grant programme will provide funding of €1,000–€6,000 to local organisations delivering grassroots activities that promote clean air and lung health awareness. Applications open in late June, offering an opportunity for organisations to contribute directly to the campaign’s impact.
Campaign partners can co-create tailored resources, including advocacy materials, educational tools, and communications toolkits, designed specifically for the local context. These resources help stakeholders engage their communities and strengthen clean air advocacy efforts.
Through ongoing policy dialogue and media engagement until the end of 2027, the campaign will connect scientific evidence and patient experiences with policy discussions, helping to keep lung health and air quality high on the public agenda.
The first stakeholder meeting brought together representatives from Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria to introduce the campaign, build partnerships and strengthen regional collaboration on clean air and lung health.
A dedicated press conference officially launched the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign to local and national media. Conducted in Polish, the event highlighted the importance of clean air for respiratory health and raised public awareness of the campaign’s goals.
We are grateful for the support of Polska Koalicja Zdrowe Płuca and Polskie Towarzystwo Chorób Płuc in making this initiative possible. By uniting for cleaner air, we can protect millions of lives worldwide.
