Respiratory disease — or more specifically, lung disease — has been listed among the top four new global killers, The Associated Press reports.

The other three killers include cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Worldwide, respiratory diseases such as emphysema account for approximately 4.2 million deaths. In India, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, lung cancer is the dominant cancer in men. China has three times the death rate from respiratory diseases as the United States.

According to AP, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls what’s causing these diseases “a public health emergency in slow motion.” Unlike communicable diseases such as influenza and tuberculosis, many of these chronic diseases are preventable. For example, tobacco use, unhealthy diets and a sedentary lifestyle are some of the common risk factors associated with the four chronic diseases.

As a result of these new findings, the U.N. General Assembly will hold its first-ever summit on chronic diseases next week. The summit will focus on the four diseases and their common risk factors.

John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society, told AP that the summit must lead to specific goals and more money. If not, a chance to make a difference with these diseases may be lost for decades, he continued.

“This is our moment in the sun,” Seffrin said. “A resolution alone is insufficient.”