RSPF24 - Plenary 2: Working together to protect public health and the environment

Working together to protect public health and the environment – a necessity in the face of global change

The study of the intrinsic links between plant, animal, human and ecosystem health has led to the development of a transdiciplinary and systemic approach defined under the « One Health » concept. The emergence of new epidemics and zoonotic diseases have often been at the centre of this approach. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the environmental factors behind health problems are multiple and complex, and that chronic disease prevention must also take account of these complex interactions between the different components of our environment.

The aim of this session is to demonstrate the value of considering environmental and public health protection together. The importance of protecting and restoring environments and biodiversity in a context where it is urgent to implement adaptation and mitigation policies to combat climate change will be illustrated. The session will focus in particular on describing the co-benefits, for the environment and human health, of nature-based adaptation and mitigation solutions. Examples of actions implemented at different scales will be used to discuss these interactions. Based on these illustrations, we’ll clarify how public health agencies have taken on board these issues and what role they play in the face of these changes.

MODERATORS
Sylvie Lemmet, Chair of Santé publique France, Environment Ambassador at the French Ministry for European and Foreign Affairs
Sébastien Denys, Santé publique France

PROGRAMME

Introduction by the moderators

Climate change – the state of play and future outlook. What are the main risks?
Laurent Bopp, CNRS, Climate & Environment Science Lab at the IPSL (France), contributor to the IPCC

Unthinking biodiversity and its implications for human health
Philippe Grandcolas, CNRS (Institut de systémique, évolution et biodiversité) and French National Museum of Natural History

A health perspective of the role of the environment in One Health
Sinaïa Netanyahu, WHO Europe

Sustainable Campuses and Biodiversity Project
Alain Sandoz, Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Université d’Aix-Marseille

One Health, a framework for collaboration between health agencies
Matthieu Schuler, Anses
Pr. Laëtitia Huiart, Santé publique France

Conclusion by the moderators