From January 27, 2023 to January 29, 2023, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Senior Manager Mr. Joji Sugawara attended the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was hosted by the Government of Thailand and the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation with various co-hosts including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This is an international conference held annually in Thailand to honor individuals and organizations that have made a contribution to global health as well as to discuss solutions to pressing global health issues together with governments, international organizations, academia, businesses, NGOs, patients, and patient advocacy groups from around the world.

The theme of this year’s Conference was “Setting a New Health Agenda – at the Nexus of Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity.” It featured broad discussions on threats posed to human health and welfare by the three interconnected global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The discussions examined how these crises complicate efforts to reduce poverty, ensure intra- and inter-generational equity, improve lives, and hinder our ability to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. They also emphasized the importance of health professionals uniting to address them.

Addressing and acting on the nexus of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation will reduce the risk of current and emerging health threats while creating a more promising and healthy future for future generations without leaving the most vulnerable groups behind. Expectations are high that doing so will provide chances for us to maximize mutual health benefits by addressing inter-linkages and common grounds of social and planetary dimensions for future human- and planet sustainability as well as enable multi-level conversations and actions to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda.

• Sub-theme 1: Addressing the Nexus of Climate Change, Environment, Biodiversity, and Health Emergencies
• Sub-theme 2: Challenges and Opportunities: Overcoming Challenges and Harnessing Opportunities for Biodiversity, Climate and Health
• Sub-theme 3: Making a Difference – Taking Action on the Ground

To mark the occasion, Secretary-General to the United Nations António Guterres shared these words:

“Humanity is facing a triple planetary crisis. Climate change is supercharging extreme weather events and increasing the risks of infectious disease outbreaks. Biodiversity loss is destroying livelihoods, causing hunger and forcing people from their homes. And air pollution is killing millions every year.”

For more information, please see here.