Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) held the second Advisory Board meeting of FY2026 for the Planetary Health Project online on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

HGPI carries out initiatives on planetary health, taking into account the impact of global environmental issues, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, on human health. The Advisory Board brings together experts from industry, government, academia, civil society, and youth groups once every quarter to engage in dialogue and build consensus toward a sustainable society from a health policy perspective. We aim to create an interactive platform that goes beyond one-way reporting from the secretariat and actively encourages information sharing and proposals for collaboration among members.
At the second meeting, the secretariat reported on the activities HGPI has undertaken since the first meeting. First, the secretariat presented an overview of the joint statement entitled “Protecting the Health of Both the Planet and People — A Japan-Model Planetary Health Strategy to Turn the Climate Crisis into an Opportunity for Health, the Economy, and Growth,” published on June 24 ahead of the next Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform (“Honebuto no Hoshin”) and Growth Strategy. This statement was drafted in light of the discussions at the first Advisory Board meeting. The secretariat also shared the status of comments submitted on matters such as the Basic Policy under the Green Contract Act. Furthermore, the secretariat reported on the latest developments related to planetary health surrounding the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, including the incorporation of “dynamic and resilient health systems” into the presidency’s Action Agenda. In addition, the secretariat shared upcoming events, including a workshop on extreme heat and health measures (held on August 24) and the second term of the Planetary Health Academy (beginning in September). Advisory Board members then gave presentations on three topics: the Science Council of Japan Public Symposium on September 7; the background and content of an emergency statement on extreme heat issued by healthcare students and youth; and discussions at the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the economics and ethics of climate change and health. Members engaged in an active discussion based on the information presented.

■ Advisory Board Members (In No Particular Order; Titles Omitted)

[Industry]

Fujiko Hasegawa (Executive Officer, Sakura Global Holdings Company, Ltd.; Visiting Professor, Tokyo Healthcare University Graduate School / Secretary General and Director, Matsumoto Memorial Foundation)
Yutaka Mitsutake (Director, Japan Sustainability, AstraZeneca K.K.)

[Government]

Satoshi Ezoe (Senior Assistant Minister for Global Health, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Government of Japan)
Yasuhiro Nishijima (Director, Medical Economics Division, Health Insurance Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Haruhiko Hakuno (Director General, Environmental Health Department, Ministry of the Environment)
Tomohiko Makino (Senior Advisor, International Affairs Division / Medical Device Review Division, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Ken Takayama (Office of Heat Illness Prevention, Planning Division, Environmental Health Department, Ministry of the Environment)

[Academia]

Kenji Fuma (Specially Appointed Professor, Co-Creative Organization for Green Society, Shinshu University / CEO, Neural, Inc.)
Masahiro Hashizume (Professor, Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo / School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University)
Yukiko Imada (Associate Professor, Division of Climate System Research, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute and Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Group, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo)
Saori Kashima (Director, Center for the Planetary Health and Innovation Science (PHIS), IDEC Institute; Professor, Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University)
Eisaku Kikuchi (Head, Office for Social and International Collaboration / Specially Appointed Associate Professor, One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University)
Naoki Kondo (Professor and Chair, Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and School of Public Health, Kyoto University)
Taiko Kudo (Visiting Professor, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature / Lecturer (Part time), Meiji University)
Hiroaki Matsuura (Vice President and Executive Director, Shoin University / Chair, Technical Advisory Group on the Economics of Environment, Climate Change, and Health, World Health Organization (WHO))
Keiko Nakamura (Emeritus Professor, Institute of Science Tokyo / President, Promotion Committee for Healthy Cities)
Keisuke Nansai (Director, Material Cycles Division of National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES))
Masashi Soga (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Naoko Yamamoto (Vice President / Professor, International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW); Director, Global Medical Cooperation Center)
Hiroya Yamano (Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo)
Chiho Watanabe (Professor, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University / President, Planetary Health Alliance Japan Hub)

[Civil Society and Youth]

Makoto Haraguchi (Fellow, Sustainability Department, MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.)
Yusuke Matsuo (Executive Director, Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership)
Kaori Matsuoka (Executive Board Member, Japan Medical Association)
Yukari Nakano (Executive Director, Japanese Nursing Association)
Masafumi Nozawa (Senior Vice President, Healthcare Industry Office, Corporate Finance Department Division 6, Development Bank of Japan)
Yusuke Sakurai (Secretary-General, Japan Zero Carbon Welfare Council)
So Sugawara (Representative Director, Green innovation)
Yoshio Uetsuka (Supreme Adviser & Special Member, Japan R-SUD Association)
Akihito Watabe (Health Specialist, Human and Social Development Office, Sector Department 3 / Health Impact Investment Specialist, Social Sector Office, Private Sector Operation Department, Asian Development Bank)
Green Practice Japan
AMSA Japan (Asian Medical Students’ Association Japan)
IFMSA-Japan (International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations Japan)
jagh-s (Japan Association for Global Health, Students Section)

[Secretariat]

Joji Sugawara (Vice President, Health and Global Policy Institute)
Eri Cahill (Associate, Health and Global Policy Institute)
Yukino Parle (Associate, Health and Global Policy Institute)
Hinako Iwakura (Program Specialist, Health and Global Policy Institute)