Planetary health and climate change: the effect on children with respiratory diseases around the world

Speakers: Dr Rahel Argaw (Ethiopia), Prof Erik Melén (Sweden). Chairs: Dr Asma El Sony (Sudan), Dr Erol Gaillard (UK)

The PATS and ERS paediatric webinar series resumes for the year, with a Planetary health and climate change: the effect on children with respiratory diseases around the world webinar on 20 March 2023. 

The recent climate crisis experienced worldwide underscores the need for the world to transition to greener products with lower global warming potential. Respiratory diseases depend on use on inhaled therapies, particularly asthma but also other chronic lung diseases. The proposed European Union regulation of F-gases will have significant implications to access to pressured metered dose inhalers, especially for young children. It is well-described that the current inhaler types, because they contain hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants (HFA-134a or HFA227ea), have a high global warming potential (GWP). With the phasing out of these propellants without transmission to HFC152a and HFC-1234ze being accessible and most importantly affordable, this may leave a large number of children who are unable to use dry powder inhalers without much needed medication.

Educational aims

The webinar will discuss the current status of access to inhalers, a just transition to inhalers of lower GWP and implications of the Kigali Agreement on access to inhaled therapies and discuss the inequities this may create in the paediatric population.

Register for the Webinar

Target audience

Pulmonologists, paediatric pulmonologists, fellows, general practitioners, respiratory nurses, medical students and policy makers.

Format

2 lectures 20-minutes duration and a Q and A session 15-20 minutes.

Date and Time

Monday, 20 March 2023. 18:00 PM CET/19:00 PM CAT

Learning Outcomes

Discussion of the current status with inhalers and use in paediatrics and the implications on the EU regulation on F-gases will have on access to inhalers and implications for treatment of respiratory diseases.