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One year into the project, the ClimAIr consortium met in Istanbul to review progress and coordinate the next phase of research on air pollution, climate change and health.
In January, Istanbul brought together researchers working at the intersection of climate science, clinical research, artificial intelligence and public health. The Month 12 General Assembly, hosted by KEYDATA, represented an important milestone in ClimAIr’s journey, an opportunity to connect ongoing work, align priorities and shape the direction of the coming months.
After twelve months of coordinated effort, the project is advancing consistently.
Scientific Progress
Much of the first year has focused on putting in place the structures needed to support long-term research. A secure and interoperable data framework has been a central priority. Partners carried out a structured assessment of federated learning infrastructures to identify solutions that allow distributed AI development while preserving privacy. In parallel, collaboration with clinical institutions helped define accessible health data parameters, clarify governance conditions and establish clear workflows for data use within hospital systems.
On the health research side, a comprehensive report analysing the effects of air pollution on airway allergy has been finalised and is publicly available on the project website. Clinical study protocols have also been consolidated.
Environmental modelling activities are progressing in parallel, contributing essential information on air pollution dynamics that will later be integrated into health impact analyses.
Ethical and legal considerations continue to guide this work. ClimAIr’s AI framework aligns with major European and international standards on research integrity, data protection and AI governance. GDPR, FAIR data principles, the EU AI Act and internationally recognised AI risk management approaches are all part of the regulatory landscape considered in the project. Medical ethics principles and human rights frameworks are treated as guiding references in the development of AI tools for healthcare.
Impact Assessment Workshop
The General Assembly also included an interactive impact assessment workshop. Partners worked in groups to reflect on expected benefits, possible risks, relevant stakeholders and practical actions. The discussion highlighted the importance of maintaining a broad perspective so that scientific and technical developments remain aligned with policy needs and public health priorities.
Communication and Cluster Collaboration
Communication activities continue to evolve alongside the research. The second ClimAIr project video has been released, and new partner interviews have been recorded for upcoming content. These initiatives help explain the project’s work and ongoing developments in a clear and transparent way.
The consortium also reviewed activities within the ExpoHealthNet cluster, reinforcing collaboration with related European projects.
Looking Ahead
The Istanbul meeting confirmed that ClimAIr has successfully established the scientific, technical and ethical structures required for its next phase. With data systems organised, clinical protocols defined and modelling work advancing, the focus now turns to integration.
Over the coming months, the project will continue connecting environmental data, health research and AI-based analysis into a coherent approach that supports informed decision-making. The overall objective remains clear: to generate reliable, transparent knowledge that helps better understand, and ultimately reduce, the health impacts of air pollution in a changing climate.