12–16 May 2025
This European Public Health Week, Lungs Europe shares key European Lung Foundation (ELF) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) projects and resources linked to EUPHW’s daily themes, with a focus on lung health and the respiratory community.
Download and share social media contentEuropean Public Health Week (EUPHW) is organised each year by the European Public Health Association to raise awareness of public health issues.
In 2025, the theme is, ‘Innovation for Resilience: Shaping a Sustainable Future’, which will explore new ideas and practical ways to strengthen public health systems and build a more sustainable future. Civil society, health professionals, patient advocates, students and many more from across Europe and beyond will join to share insights, spark discussions and find real-world solutions to today’s public health challenges.
Lungs Europe is taking part by sharing key ELF and ERS projects and resources linked to EUPHW’s daily themes, with a focus on lung health and issues affecting the respiratory community.
Respiratory healthcare workers and caregivers are under growing pressure. They face high stress, burnout and persistent staff and resource shortages across strained health systems.
These challenges affect their own health and the quality of care they provide. A strong health system depends on a supported and healthy workforce.
Taking care of healthcare workers is essential if we want to deliver safe, reliable care.
Our diets, food systems and the health of the planet are closely connected. What supports one should support the others too.
Climate change is putting food security at risk and making lung conditions more common and harder to manage. It worsens air quality and increases the burden on people living with respiratory diseases.
We need food and public health systems that protect lungs, care for the environment, are accessible to all and respect cultural traditions.
Chronic respiratory diseases like COPD place a major burden on older adults, who are often managing several long-term health conditions at once.
Telemedicine expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering new ways to deliver care. However, many countries still lack sustainable systems to make it part of everyday healthcare, and older people often face barriers such as limited digital skills or access to technology.
As health systems continue to go digital, equity must lead the way. Innovation must empower those with the greatest needs and ensure no one is left behind.
Lung health depends not just on personal choices, but also on where people live, work and grow. Polluted air, unsafe housing and low income all increase the risk of lung diseases like asthma and COPD, particularly in marginalised communities.
Many people still face barriers to care because of cost, distance or discrimination. These inequalities lead to worse health outcomes and a heavier burden of disease.
To protect lung health, we need cleaner air, fair access to healthcare and public policies that remove the barriers holding people back. Everyone deserves a fair chance at healthy lungs.
Young people are key to the future of public health. They bring fresh ideas, lived experience and energy to drive change where it is urgently needed.
Real engagement means giving young people leadership roles, resources and real influence — not just a seat at the table.
By supporting youth-led action and fostering grassroots advocacy, we can build a stronger, more inclusive future for lung health that carries the message forward for generations to come.
The Lungs Europe enterprise number is 0738.383.695
