The Next Generation One Health Philippines (NGOHP), a flagship program of the Planetary and Global Health Program (PGHP) of the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial (SLMCCM-WHQM) and supported by the International Alliance Against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, joined the world’s leading environmental and planetary health organizations in the Planetary Health Summit and Annual Meeting (PHAM) 2024. The conference was held last April 16-19, 2024 at Sunway University, one of Malaysia’s leading private universities based at Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur.
The NGOHP team, with the rest of the St. Luke’s PGHP members, at the Planetary Health Summit and Annual Meeting 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur
Convening every 18 months, PHAM brings together the global planetary health community to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges and provide resources to drive systemic transformation. With representation from 130 nations, the summit offered a comprehensive agenda addressing the climate crisis and justice, artificial intelligence, sustainable energy, mental health, gender equality, indigenous people’s perspectives, food systems, and education.
“Why do you think there is suffering? Because we don’t sing to the trees anymore, to the climates, to the animals,” Dr. Nicole Redvers, an Associate Professor at Western University, shared as she delved into the different layers of the climate crisis. Moreover, she underscored the need to address root causes like overconsumption, exploitative economic systems, and unjust governance to ensure a secure and equitable future for humanity and the planet.
The event underscored the importance of tackling the existing gaps that can spark an educational revolution positively impacting younger generations.
At the summit’s conclusion, a roadmap was presented to translate evidence-based knowledge into actionable steps for planetary health leaders and stakeholders. The Action Plan outlines six key initiatives: accurately measuring planetary health, enhancing communication strategies, prioritizing education for transition, establishing robust governance structures, balancing business interests with environmental well-being, and integrating planetary health considerations into practices. Each initiative is vital for promoting a sustainable, health-conscious approach to global challenges.
The 2024 Summit for Planetary Health and 6th Annual Meeting successfully left a lasting impact on the global Planetary Health community, setting the stage for transformative action and collaboration in addressing pressing environmental and health challenges in the years to come.
