Comments from Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Vice President Mr. Joji Sugawara, have been featured in Mainichi Shimbun’s “Physicians Connecting People and the Health of the Earth.”

He focused his comments on the “Planetary Health Project,” highlighting the following three points:

1. The Importance of Planetary Health: In Japan, there is a tendency to view climate change as merely an issue for the energy and automotive industries, and there is a lack of understanding that all sectors of society, including the healthcare and medical sectors, should address it.
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Healthcare: Greenhouse gas emissions from healthcare-related fields account for 4-5% of the world’s total, a significant percentage when compared on a country-by-country basis. It is crucial to reduce CO2 emissions in the healthcare sector.
3. The Role of the Healthcare Sector and Positive Initiatives: Sugawara anticipates that increased communication linking environmental issues and health by healthcare professionals will have a positive impact on encouraging behavioral changes among citizens.

The article can be accessed online, please click here, but registration is required (details available in Japanese only).
Additionally, it is scheduled to be published in the morning edition on November 13th Week.