The multifactorial process of ageing is one of the biggest biological and medical challenges of the 21st century with age-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer being among the leading causes of death among industrialized countries. Rather than one single causative factor, a range of environmental, demographic, biological, behavioral and social factors determine the development and onset of age-related diseases (ARDs). While it remains a challenge to assess the cumulative effect of environmental influences on human ageing, growing evidence indicates that both ARDs and non-pathological ageing processes are driven by environmental influences. The present review takes a closer look at the different environmental factors including air, climate, water, soil, urban green, social and individual environments and their influence on common ARDs and other life-limiting pathologies. It is of major public health relevance, to understand the interactions between these factors to develop preventive strategies both at individual and societal level to support healthy ageing.