Planetary Health

Planetary Health

Advancing the health of people and the planet – in Asia and beyond

The concept of planetary health recognises that the health of people and that of our planet Earth – its life forms, non-living components, and entire ecosystems – are deeply interconnected. Therefore, improving health in the 21st century requires a truly integrated, holistic, system-oriented approach that brings together diverse disciplines, sectors, geographies, and generations.

Our newest strategic initiative, Planetary Health, aims to advance the health of people and the planet in Asia and beyond through education, research, innovation, policy, advocacy, and clinical excellence.

The initiative will tackle the health implications of the triple planetary crises identified by the United Nations – climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss – and will advance solutions not only for health systems but also for systems for health – such as the food system, cities, energy and transport, and the broader economy.

Our primary focus areas

Climate-resilient and sustainable health systems

We are fostering climate-resilient and sustainable health systems in Asia by:

Providing technical support to national governments on climate and health assessments, planning and capacity strengthening.

Developing a bank of case studies on climate resilient and sustainable health systems, hospitals, health facilities, and public health programs from across Asia.

Conducting an assessment of climate and health knowledge, attitudes, and practice among health professionals in Asia.

Protecting health against climate change

Climate and health epidemiology

Together with colleagues from Duke University, we are conducting epidemiological and lived experience research on the impacts of heat stress on kidney disease among farmers in Sri Lanka, as well as heat stress and kidney stones in Singapore (in collaboration with SGH Urology).

Together with Universitas Sumatera Utara (one of SDGHI’s regional collaborating centres), we are also conducting research into climate change, air pollution, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as the health benefits of sustainable agriculture – both in Medan, Indonesia.

Climate change and mental health

We organised an Asia-wide climate change and mental health workshop as part of SDGHI’s Global Mental Health in Asia Symposium. Our lead, Dr Renzo Guinto, is the convenor of the Eastern and South-Eastern Asia Regional Hub of the Connecting Climate Minds global network.

Climate change, migration and health

We were recently commissioned by the World Health Organization to develop a Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) focusing on health system strengthening to improve the health needs of migrants and displaced populations affected by climate change. We are collaborating with the NUS Centre for Biomedical Ethics on a case study on climate, migration, and health in the Pacific.