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This year’s Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) was released again this year in time for Earthday (April 22).

The PHRC is a tool for students to evaluate and enhance their commitment to Planetary Health in medical universities and departments. Nagasaki University was the only Japanese university that participated in the PHRC the year before last and received a C grade this year, which is an improvement from last year’s overall grade of C-.

The concept of “Planetary Health” has been attracting attention in recent years, but awareness of the concept remains low. Therefore, the survey conducted in the process of creating the PHRC itself leads to activities to expand the concept. The global environment and our health are closely related. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that climate change is “the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century”. We must understand and address the impact of environmental change on patient health and the impact of healthcare on the environment, and PHRC is helping to build momentum for sustainable healthcare.

The Planetary Health Research Center (PHRC) has identified five categories of initiatives on Planetary Health at medical schools (medical universities)
“Planetary Health Curriculum”
“Interdisciplinary Research”
“Community Support and Suggestions”
“Support for Planetary Health-related activities”
“Campus Sustainability”
Graded on a scale of A+ to F-
At Nagasaki University, “the Shishinoko Project”, a university-wide club, conducted the survey.

Compared to last year, this year’s evaluation showed overall improvement. Notably, in the area of interdisciplinary research, initiatives like Interfaculty Initiative in Planetary Health, which launched last year, stood out, receiving high praise. This indicates that Nagasaki University’s contributions to Planetary Health are recognized as significant on a global scale.

See the link below for more information

The outcomes prepared by the PHRC are disseminated among the university’s faculty and staff, serving as a foundation for enhancing efforts related to Planetary Health across the campus. We are optimistic that these activities will not only continue but also expand, further enriching our understanding of Planetary Health.

PHRC report for this year:
https://phreportcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PHRC-2023-Med-Summary-Report-FINAL.pdf

Official Website:
https://phreportcard.org/