Top picks from the ERS leadership 2024

As ERS Advocacy Council Chair, what are you most looking forward to about this year’s ERS Congress?

Most of all, I am looking forward to meeting old and new friends, colleagues and experts to exchange ideas, discuss open questions and enjoy common interests. For me, this personal exchange is one of the most motivating experiences and this is what a conference is all about – be it online or in-person.

What in your opinion will be the hot topics in epidemiology and environmental health at the ERS Congress 2024?

The so-called triple crisis of environmental degradation, climate change and loss of biodiversity and its broad implications for medicine and lung health will continue to be a hot topic for a long time.

There is an urgent need to present solutions for a more sustainable practice of medicine, including environmentally-friendly prescriptions, reduction of waste, and AI solutions. I am curious to learn more about activities that target the healthcare system and how it can be made more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Please tell us your top three picks from the Congress programme and explain why?

I am specifically looking forward to:

1. The Wednesday morning session on wildfires (11 September, 09:00 CEST, LEHAR 1) and how they impact lung health. We have all witnessed the dramatic situations in Canada, Greece, California, Australia and even in countries not typically known to suffer from wildfires in recent years. This will become a regular happening in the future.
   Experts will discuss the toxicity of wildfire smoke compared to other air pollution sources, will present and discuss the usefulness of communication tools for the public, and will address how to incorporate the health impacts of these devastating events into climate policies.
2. The hot topic session on “Overcoming the challenges of increasing urbanisation on respiratory health” (9 September, 10:15 CEST, C1 – live streamed).
   I think this is relevant for most of us – we live in growing cities with very specific risks but also opportunities for improving lung health. Young men are very susceptible to adverse health effects related to city life and in this session, we will hear about how greenness and an improved microbiome, among other factors, can contribute to better health – something which will be very interesting for all.

3. Finally, I am very interested in the views featured in the pro-con debate on smoke-free environments in Europe – a utopia or a feasible reality? (Saturday 7 September, 14:00 CEST, STRAUSS 3).
   What are the barriers for successful anti-smoking programmes? How can we move forward? What are the countries with decreasing smoking rates doing differently and how can we learn from them? Given the impact of smoking on lung health and the rising epidemic of novel nicotine products, these questions are as pertinent as ever.