News
Recapping Major Milestones
The Planetary Health movement reached a defining moment in 2024. Our community of scientists, educators, policymakers, and advocates worked across boundaries and borders to launch the Planetary Health Roadmap and Kuala Lumpur Call to Action. These documents translate research into action and give shape to our shared vision for transformation.
This year showed how local actions ripple outward to create global change. From youth clubs bridging continents to groundbreaking research partnerships, our members built connections that transcend traditional silos. The growth of our Alliance to 480+ organizations across 80 countries reflects a deepening recognition that human health and Earth’s natural systems are inseparable.
Science tells us clearly that humanity’s ecological footprint has expanded beyond what our planet can sustain. Yet 2024 also brought signs of positive disruption – new ways of thinking, teaching, and working together that point toward a regenerative future. Our first Planetary Health Annual Meeting in Asia drew 1,000 participants from 63 countries eager to reimagine education, health systems, and economies.
The stories in this review showcase both urgency and hope. They come from classrooms and clinics, from government offices and community gardens. Each represents countless conversations and collaborations aimed at one goal: ensuring a thriving future for all life on Earth.
2024 also marked the first full year that the global secretariat has been housed at Johns Hopkins University, with our home base in Washington, D.C. This year saw the launch of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health, a cross-university initiative to infuse Planetary Health into the fabric of the institution. This institute—like other initiatives that have emerged at universities and institutions across the globe—is another indication of Planetary Health’s rapid growth and mainstreaming.
As we look toward the rest of 2025 and our movement’s 10th anniversary, I see extraordinary potential in our growing global community. The path ahead demands courage, creativity, and an unwavering focus on solutions. We can transform how humanity lives and works on this planet we call home.
Marie Studer, PhD 
Executive Director
Planetary Health Alliance
P.S. PHA will soon unveil a completely reimagined website, featuring enhanced resources for educators, policymakers, and practitioners alongside deeper coverage of issues and initiatives. This digital transformation coincides with our field’s 10th anniversary celebrations, which will include the landmark PHAM 2025 in Rotterdam (October 7-10) and a youth-led challenge to implement concrete Planetary Health solutions. These coordinated activities will honor our collective achievements and accelerate momentum. More soon!
Last year realized growth and impact across all dimensions of the Planetary Health Alliance, from membership to advances in policy. This work is often led by, and amplified through, our partners and members. We are grateful to have such a dynamic and strong community of practice.
Mainstreaming | A Year of Action and Growth
The 2024 Planetary Health Annual Meeting (PHAM) in Malaysia marked our first gathering in Asia, drawing 1,000 participants from 63 countries. Media coverage reached over 10 million viewers, spreading our message of hope and action far beyond the conference walls.
Our digital presence grew through the Hylo online platform, connecting members across continents for collaboration and knowledge exchange. The Planetary Health Campus Ambassador Program enabled 69 university students from 25 countries to bring Planetary Health to their campuses and communities. The Next Generation Youth Council was launched with 10 individuals from 8 countries to advance the interests and priorities of students and young professionals within PHA and provide strategic guidance, advocacy, and collaboration opportunities to elevate youth voices, increase program bandwidth, and develop future leaders in Planetary Health.
PHA was honored to be recognized by the World Economic Forum as an organization at the forefront of addressing the intersection of climate and health alongside much larger institutions and businesses.
MORE IN 2025
The 10th anniversary of Planetary Health will feature special initiatives throughout the year, culminating in PHAM 2025 in Rotterdam (October 7-10).
Research | Advancing Understanding
Articles published in 2024 add to the solid evidence base for Planetary Health approaches. New academic journals launched dedicated sections, including BMJ Leader and the European Journal of Health Communication.
A landmark study in GeoHealth documented the rising use of “Planetary Health” in academic literature, showing how the field has matured. Between 2002 and 2022, the number of publications mentioning Planetary Health grew by more than a third (35.7%) each year. This growth reflects both wider acceptance of Planetary Health concepts and their increasing relevance to global challenges.
PHA shared nearly 100 new Planetary Health research and policy articles through our monthly newsletter in 2024. Our coverage showed Planetary Health research and policy was most focused on climate change impacts, healthcare system responses, air pollution effects, and food system transformations. A strong representation of educational approaches and research methodologies indicates an emphasis on building capacity and knowledge within the field. The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences created a comprehensive Planetary Health research agenda identifying 115 knowledge gaps, with priorities needed in integrated analyses of environmental changes’ impacts on health, economic transformation, behavior change mechanisms, and health sector adaptation strategies.
MORE IN 2025
Watch for expanded integration of climate-mental health connections thanks to the Connecting Climate Minds project, which identified research priorities and recommendations in 2024 to understand and act on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis in each global region.
Education | Learning for change
2024 brought Planetary Health education to new audiences worldwide! Our webpages now serve as a hub for global course offerings, while the “Growing Green Hearts” eBook and foldable posters reach younger generations with age-appropriate content.
The integration of Planetary Health into global health training programs and learning objectives signals a shift in professional education. As one example, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health is leading the integration of Planetary Health into curricula by incorporating Planetary Health into the latest Global Health Competencies Toolkit and publishing a set of Planetary Health learning objectives designed to prepare the next generation of health leaders. On our website there are new visual tools and teaching resources help educators explain complex concepts clearly and compellingly. The University of Vermont‘s comprehensive framework shows how institutions can use Planetary Health to create a robust model to guide their actions from operations to academic and research programs to community and civic engagement. In higher education, we’ve logged 40 degree programs, demonstrating the field’s academic depth. A significant number of online offerings shows a growing commitment to making this education widely accessible.
MORE IN 2025
Watch for expanded educational programs that cross traditional academic boundaries, guided by the Roadmap‘s recommendations for transformative learning.
Policy | Building Momentum and Will for Change
2024 saw Planetary Health take center stage in global policy action and discussions. Malaysia became the first country to launch a National Planetary Health Action Plan that aims to integrate Planetary Health into national policies ensuring a holistic approach to sustainability The Alliance gained observer status with the Convention on Biological Diversity, amplifying our voice in critical environmental decisions. At COP29 – the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, a Planetary Health cadre helped shape climate policy discussions, while our involvement with the US State Department’s International Visitor Program opened new channels for diplomatic engagement.
The Roadmap‘s policy frameworks give decision-makers concrete tools for action. Working groups brought scientific evidence directly to policymakers, turning research into practical guidelines for governance at local, national, and international levels.
MORE IN 2025
The focus shifts to implementing the Roadmap’s recommendations across different levels of government, with special attention to regional and municipal initiatives.
Membership | A Growing Global Community
Our community grew stronger and more diverse in 2024, welcoming members from new regions and disciplines. The Hylo platform connected members across continents, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. Campus Ambassadors brought fresh energy to 56 universities across 25 countries.
Our new Youth Council focused on three key areas of community expansion: Planetary Health Club guidelines, competitions and programs, and capturing lived experience narratives. Their work shows how young leaders are shaping the future of Planetary Health. You will soon be seeing their impressive outputs on our new website and elsewhere online!
MORE IN 2025
Planetary Health Regional Hubs will expand their reach, with plans underway for new hubs in North America and East Asia. Now and in the coming weeks, check PHA’s social media channels to see posts highlighting each Regional Hub!
Community Building | Local Action, Global Effects
Our community’s work took root in cities and regions worldwide in 2024. Early on, six diverse working groups brought 120+ participants together from all around the world to shape the Roadmap and Action Plan. Late in the year in Asia, productive meetings with Japan’s Ministries of Health and Environment led to concrete policy changes. Hundreds gathered for the Planetary Health Symposium at Hiroshima University, while discussions around sustainable urban design hosted in Singapore and at the World Health City Forum in South Korea brought together architects, government officials, and environmental experts.
The “We Are the Possible” storytelling project for COP29 united 400 global participants, including a large segment from the Planetary Health community, while regional initiatives like the first youth club meeting between Sri Lanka and Brazil showed the power of cross-cultural exchange.
MORE IN 2025
The Rotterdam meeting will celebrate our community’s achievements while setting ambitious goals for the next decade of Planetary Health action!
Numbers tell one part of our story – behind each statistic are countless individuals working to build a healthier future for people and planet. This growth reflects both wider acceptance of Planetary Health concepts and their increasing relevance to global challenges in 2024.
The Global Reach
Digital Engagement
Alliance Composition
Planetary Health Frameworks
• Foundational Documents
