Author: aarcese@cirmservizi.it

The European Medical Association (EMA) convened a conference on 17th September 2025 at University College London (UCL), streamed live to a wide online audience. The conference was held in partnership with the European Network on Climate and Health Education (ENCHE), International Network on Public Health and Environment Tracking (INPHET), with support from the UCL Institute for Global Health. This meeting aimed to provide a forum for advancing environmental health (EH), teaching, research, and practice within the European region and the UK. Participants included researchers with interdisciplinary expertise, health care practitioners, public health professionals, academic clinicians and educators responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate training. The conference aim was to address: “What opportunities can be identified for best practice arrangements to be included in (1) EH curricula in universities; (2) EH training as part of professional practice in health and social care; (3) EH training as part of professional practice in public health?” Look also at the EMANET LinkedIn article. Objectives: Converge toward the proposal of a specific curriculum on environmental determinants of health and on the effects of climate changes on human health for preparing/training health professionals (undergraduate and postgraduate) during their official course of studies. Compare different possible approaches and teaching methodologies such as creating dedicated “teaching units” (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) on EH and/or integrating EH issues into subjects already delivered to students (physiology, pathology, clinical medicine, clinical surgery, psychiatry etc). Conclusion and planning of proposal. From a medical viewpoint, as presented by the speakers of clinical areas, a good medical practice reduces the environmental impact of the abuse of technology, particularly of useless or redundant advanced diagnostics and imaging procedures. Strengthening physician’s knowledge, training and practice enhancing and teaching physical diagnostic skills allows more focused, timely, and accurate diagnoses. These neglected but effective tools increase appropriateness and reduce healthcare costs, waiting times and the resulting inconvenience. From an environmental perspective, it will greatly decrease the unjustified use of disposable materials and the consequent pollution due to health-care waste. 1) The tasks of the working group https://emanet.org/working-groups/ that led to the creation of this conference will be broadly followed up, maintaining the leadership of Giovanni Leonardi; 2) An EMA position article will be developed shortly to be published online on LinkedIn and suitable to be submitted to a peer-reviewed medical journal; 3) Contacts will be established with several medical school deans, university presidents, and institutional CME providers to develop appropriate and sustainable curricula, both as pilot projects for individual schools and as structured proposals at the regional, national, and European levels. 4) Workshops will be scheduled, including online and at appropriate venues in the EU, UK, and elsewhere; for Europe, existing contacts with interested MPs will be followed up, including to possibility of hosting at institutional venues. 5) relationships, connections and agreements with ngo will be pursued for more effective dissemination and for developing joint projects and initiatives. The conference content is summarized in the videos listed below. Some of the most significant developments on the relationship between health and the environment were presented from an interdisciplinary perspective, incorporating economic, psychological, strategic and political dimensions, and framed within both European and global contexts. Quality of life assessment and promotion in urban, rural and work subset and noise pollution were in focus, with detail on the current and forthcoming EU initiatives, rules and debate. To access the presentations from the speakers, please use also the LinkedIn article, regularly. Click here.   The complete recording of the conference is also available. List of the speakers and titles of the speeches. 1 Giovanni Leonardi.  Objectives and program: the need of new environmental health curricula. 2 Camille Huser. Wellcome and Presentation. 3 Francesco Salustri. The contribution of economics to environmental health.The contribution of economics to environmental health. 4 Andy Haines LECTURE. Environmental Health Capacity. Need for integrating pollution and climate agenda. 5 Andy Haines – discussion on the topics of the Lecture and on other related themes. 6 Joachim D’Eugenio. Environment and Health. Progress and outlook on EU Policy initiatives. 7 Vincenzo Costigliola, EMA President.  Welcome and wishes: the hope. 8 Ana Correa Ossa.   Health economics and decision science. Proposing innovation in Environmental Health Policies and curricula. 9 Elisa Puzzolo.  Air pollution: a global threat. Insights and implications for healthcare professionals 10 Ariana Zeka. Environmental health and climate change in the disease course: cardiovascular health 11 San YuMay Tun. How far along are we? What initiatives can we support. 11 Gabriele De Luca. Challenges unique to brain disease and neurology: their impact on planetary health. Opportunities for the future. 12 Gabriella Captur.  Which cardiology must integrate environmental health. Clinical risk, sector responsibility and training solutions for Europe. 13 Paolo Lauriola.  Primary care as the missing link. Education, training and capacity building for environmental and global health protection. Respiratory disease. 14 Camille Huser.  Education for sustainable health care. 15 Ken Barker. The National Green Theatre program. 16 Prisco Piscitelli and Giovanni Leonardi. Comments and proposals. 17 Vincenzo Costigliola. Final comments and perspectives. 18 Guglielmo Trovato, EMA’s Vice-President.   Facts, opportunities and barriers. Overview and few remarks on EMA’s actions. Complete recording of the conference is also available.

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