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Planetary Health Annual Meeting 2027（PHAM2027）
About PHAM2027
Welcome Message
Chiho Watanabe
Head of the Planetary Health Japan Hub
Nagasaki University
It is our great pleasure to have PHAM, the largest gathering of Planetary Health, here in Tokyo. More than ten years have passed since the canonical Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission report; the term has gradually gained attention in broader sectors worldwide. A decade, however, is a substantial length of time, and considering the rapid development of climate- and nature-related phenomena during the last decade, we need to further accelerate the movement toward Planetary Health.
Blending wisdom - which begins the PHAM2027’s theme - will be needed for this acceleration and will be enabled through interaction with “others” in its broadest meaning, other disciplines, social sectors, ethnicity, genders, generations, and even other living species. Being exposed to other narratives which might sometimes be very different from the narrative we have been accustomed to, on the problems, the nature, and the world, would enable new visions to emerge. Solutions, which are also included in PHAM2027’s theme, are not only to fix existing problems, but also to open hidden gates for societal transitions with new visions.
Japan is an interesting place to discuss Planetary Health. While Japanese society today is mostly shaped in the last 150 years, it has been imposed on its own traditional society with a long history. It’s a mixture of old and new, a mixture of incessant urge for something new -a driving force of innovation- and embedded traditional way of viewing human-nature relationship - human-nature amalgamation, so to speak. Most probably, this human-nature relationship is shared among many communities in the East Asian region and beyond, including many Indigenous groups across the globe. With this in mind, we believe that vibrant conversations in PHAM2027 will extend our possible choices for the future.
As mentioned in the Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission report in 2015, Imagination is one of the most important pillars to overcome our challenges, and communication with people and with nature should be the source of it. Join us at PHAM2027, and nourish our imagination!
On behalf of Planetary Health Japan Hub,
Chiho Watanabe
Rachel Marcus, DrPH, MSc
Executive Director
Planetary Health Alliance
Welcome to the Planetary Health Annual Meeting 2027!
On behalf of the Planetary Health Alliance, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Tokyo, Japan, for PHAM 2027. At a time when the interconnected challenges facing humanity and the natural systems upon which we depend continue to grow in complexity and urgency, this gathering provides an essential opportunity to come together, learn from one another, and accelerate action.
The Planetary Health movement has always been rooted in collaboration across disciplines, sectors, generations, and geographies. PHAM 2027 invites us to deepen that spirit of partnership by blending diverse forms of wisdom - scientific, Indigenous, local, cultural, and lived experience - to shape solutions for a rapidly changing world. By bringing together researchers, educators, practitioners, policymakers, artists, community leaders, students, and advocates, we can strengthen our collective capacity to advance health, equity, resilience, and environmental stewardship at scale.
We are thrilled to collaborate with the Planetary Health Japan Hub on an event that will approach these challenges in thoughtful, actionable ways. Japan offers an intentional and meaningful setting for these conversations. Japan’s rich traditions, commitment to innovation, and emphasis on harmony between humans and the natural world, combined with the global perspectives of the entire Planetary Health community, will inspire pathways toward a thriving future for all.
During PHAM week, I encourage you to engage openly, build new relationships, challenge assumptions, and imagine bold possibilities. The ideas, partnerships, and commitments that emerge from this meeting have the potential to shape not only the future of our field but the future of communities around the world.
Thank you for being part of this global movement. We look forward to learning with you and working together to advance Planetary Health for generations to come.
About PHAM 2027
The Planetary Health Annual Meeting (PHAM) is the central international conference in the field of Planetary Health. Held approximately every 18 months, PHAM connects the global Planetary Health community — bringing together scientists, policymakers, educators, students, artists, civil society organizations, and Indigenous local community leaders and private sector representatives from around the world.
Since its inaugural gathering in Boston in 2017, PHAM has grown into a truly global movement. Over seven meetings, thousands of leaders from more than 130 countries have gathered in five countries — the United States, Scotland, Brazil, Malaysia, and the Netherlands — to share knowledge, forge new collaborations, and design solutions to the defining challenges of our time.
PHAM 2027 marks a milestone: ten years since the first meeting, and the first time PHAM comes to Japan. From June 7–11, 2027, the Planetary Health Alliance and the Planetary Health Japan Hub will welcome participants from around the world to act together for the health of people and planet.
Conference Theme
Blending Wisdom for a Thriving Future: Solutions for a Changing Earth
Earth is changing faster than ever. Climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and environmental degradation are no longer distant issues; they are urgent realities that challenge the very foundation of our existence. In the face of these profound crises, no single field, sector, or culture can provide the answers we need alone.
At PHAM 2027, our focus is on "Blending Wisdom." We bridge scientific insights—Planetary Health science, ecology, and health science —with perspectives from economics, law, ethics, and the humanities. We work together across governments, industries, and civil society, while honoring and intersecting Indigenous traditions with Eastern and Western philosophies. We believe that by bringing these diverse viewpoints together, we generate the practical wisdom necessary for the Earth and humanity to thrive in harmony.
We are not here to maintain the status quo. Our goal is to create a "thriving future" in which all life can flourish with dignity. We aim for this conference to be a platform that transcends boundaries, connecting people and knowledge and accelerating concrete actions to co-create a healthy future where both our planet and society can flourish.