Panelists discuss how, despite being preventable and treatable, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has emerged as a major global health challenge due to widespread exposure to risk factors, particularly tobacco smoke, which remains the primary cause despite declining smoking rates in some regions. Early environmental exposures play a crucial role—workplace pollutants, air pollution, and secondhand smoke can damage developing lungs, whereas genetic factors like α1-antitrypsin deficiency increase susceptibility.