Reducing the cardiovascular disease burden through environmental prevention

With more than two out of five deaths, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the European Union. Pollution plays a leading role in the development and aggravation of heart attacks and strokes, and almost 20% of deaths from cardiovascular disease are due to a polluted environment. More frequent and more severe heatwaves exacerbate the already high burden of disease, from the combination of heat and air pollution.

Following the 2025 publication of the EU Safe Hearts Plan, the European Parliament is currently preparing its position on an EU cardiovascular diseases strategy. The Safe Hearts Plan includes prevention as one of three pillars for action and sets a 25% reduction target for cardiovascular deaths by 2035.

Given the importance of environmental prevention of cardiovascular disease, HEAL recommends in a new policy briefing that the EU’s future actions strengthen measures to reduce air and chemical pollution at source. This includes ending public financing for fossil fuel burning as a key pollution source, as well as providing dedicated financing for pollution prevention and control in the next EU budget. Prevention efforts should also consider the synergies of pollution and climate change.

Access the full policy briefing