Climate change and respiratory disease: a position statement

Climate change will affect individuals with pre-existing respiratory disease but to what extent remains unclear. This position statement was developed on behalf of the European Respiratory Society to identify areas of concern arising from climate change for individuals with respiratory disease, health care workers in the respiratory sector and for policy makers. The statement was developed following a two day workshop held in Leuven in March 2008. Key areas of concern for the respiratory community arising from climate change are discussed and recommendations made to address knowledge gaps. The most important recommendation was the development of more accurate predictive models to predict the impact of climate change on respiratory health. Respiratory health care workers also have an advocacy role in persuading governments and the EU to maintain awareness and appropriate actions with respect to climate change and these areas are also discussed in the position statement.