Health and Global Policy Institute’s (HGPI) Planetary Health Project acknowledges and fully supports the Japanese government delegation’s formal expression of interest in the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) at the 154^th World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board in Geneva on January 27, 2024. This acknowledgement comes in light of the growing importance of addressing planetary health challenges, including climate change, in today’s society.

The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in December 2023, held its first-ever Health Day on December 3, expressing serious concern about the impact of climate change on health. In addition, the “COP28 UAE Declaration on climate and health” was signed by 143 countries, including Japan, at the COP28 Climate and Health Ministerial Meeting. This declaration aims to raise global awareness of the interaction between health and climate change and to promote international cooperation.

HGPI’s Planetary Health Project continues to address health policy challenges, both domestically and internationally, led by multiple stakeholders. In December 2022, we presented a “Request for the G7 Hiroshima Summit and Related Ministerial Meetings: Promoting Measures for Climate Change and Planetary Health That Keep Pace With the International Community” to the Japanese government, host of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, urging commitment to ATACH. ATACH is an important initiative to promote collaboration among countries to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems.

Discussions at the recent WHO Executive Board covered a wide range of topics, including not only ATACH but also environmental pollution, demonstrating the importance of unified efforts among countries to align their efforts. Therefore, at the upcoming 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), to be held from 27 May to 1 June 2024, there is great interest in understanding how different entities will lead efforts to address the health impacts of environmental pollution, such as plastic waste, and biodiversity loss, in addition to climate change.

Moving forward, the Japanese government will be asked to commit to “Climate Resilient Health Systems,” “Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems,” “Supply Chains,” “Financing,” and “Climate Action and Nutrition,” through the ATACH engagement process. Addressing the urgent need to design new social systems for achieving a sustainable society from a planetary health perspective, the initiatives of the Japanese government are anticipated to be a driving force for change in this domain. Additionally, the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA) has also welcomed ATACH by announcing the statement “Innovative pharmaceutical industry statement on COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health,” highlighting the industry’s support. We have high expectations that the Japanese government will lead, in collaboration with industries such as JPMA, to overcome silos and realize partnerships and collaborations addressing planetary health challenges within Japan.

We will continue to present effective health policy options not only within Japan but also globally. We are committed to working together beyond individual perspectives to address global health and medical challenges on a planetary scale. HGPI’s Planetary Health Project will strive to provide as much support as possible to promote understanding among domestic stakeholders in the future.