For the 8th lecture of the Global Health Education Program (G-HEP) we welcomed Dr. Koki Takaki, from the Environmental Health Department at the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

In this lecture, Dr. Takaki, presented an overview of some of the historical environmental challenges that Japan has faced, which resulted in the establishment of the Japan Environmental Agency, a body of the government to create more regulation and more robust laws for air and water pollution and other environmental risks to health. He then introduced the Triple Planetary Crisis which refers to the three main interlinked issues that humanity currently faces 1) climate change, 2) pollution, and 3) biodiversity loss, touching on how Japan has been impacted.

Dr. Takaki shared what the government of Japan has implemented as policy measures and local programs in response to planetary health challenges such as reducing plastic waste in the environment. He concluded with an outline of the government’s “Sixth Basic Environmental Plan,” a plan that aims to transform Japan’s economic and social systems, creating a sustainable, circular symbiotic society that can grow and develop by protecting and improving the quality of the environment.

Participants of the G-HEP program are now in the phase of developing their policy papers to include solutions to the planetary health problems they have learned about, as well we the policy they would recommend.

■ About Global Health Education Program (G-HEP)

The “Global Health Education Program (G-HEP)” vision is to establish a global community of young leaders that can work together to push global health agendas forward and to conduct human resources training and development for the future. The partnership with the Mahidol University Faculty of Public Health which began in 2018 extended the program’s boundaries through interactions among young generations not only from Japan but from the ASEAN region as well. This year’s program welcomes Emory University Rollins School of Public Health bringing a U.S. perspective to the program along with participants of diverse professions and backgrounds. Participants in G-HEP can work together to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation for solving complex global public health issues.

■ About The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University

The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University is ranked 3rd among all accredited schools and programs of public health in the United States. Located in Atlanta, known as the “Public Health Capital of the World,” the school draws strength from several unique local resources. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides many of the school’s nearly 200 adjunct faculty. The Carter Center is involved in international health intervention programs that provide student practicum opportunities. Students can learn from both in the classroom and as interns in the field. Students join the Rollins community from all 50 states and from more than 40 foreign countries to contribute to the school and apply knowledge to promote health and prevent disease in human populations.

■ About The Faculty of Public Health at Mahidol University

The Faculty of Public Health at Mahidol University, established in 1948 is the first public health academic institution in Thailand. At present, the Faculty of Public Health produces approximately 1,400 graduates in several majors from the Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral levels. The faculty plays an integral role as an academic leader in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the development of the country on academic management, training, as well as academic service to Asia-Pacific countries. Since 1976, the faculty has been running the Master of Public Health – International Program, with over 1250 graduates from 42 different countries.

This project is supported by The Japan Foundation.