On July 1, 2025, Mr. Joji Sugawara, Vice President of Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), served as a panelist in Cross Talk Part 2 titled “Planetary Health” at the symposium “Exploring Contemporary Issues in Public Health,” hosted by the Keio University X Dignity Center.

This symposium was held as part of the launch of two new research units within the Keio University X Dignity Center: “Attention Economy and Informational Health” and “Planetary Health and Human Rights.” The event brought together panelists from across the public, private, academic, and civil society sectors to discuss the evolving challenges of public health in addressing diverse health issues.

In the Cross Talk session, Mr. Sugawara introduced HGPI’s ongoing initiatives under its Planetary Health Project. He emphasized the importance of understanding the interconnections among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including co-benefits and trade-offs, within the healthcare sector when approaching human health. He also pointed out the varying levels of awareness and engagement with planetary health across sectors and stressed the need to foster cross-sectoral understanding of planetary health as a shared and interdisciplinary concept.