Planetary Health

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Planetary Health

Future-proofing health for all in the climate era

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute’s Planetary Health Programme advances the health of both people and the planet in Asia by building resilient and sustainable health systems, promoting health equity especially among the disadvantaged, and fostering education and collaboration across diverse sectors.

Backed by Duke-NUS and SingHealth, we work at the nexus of health, climate, and sustainability — supporting evidence, innovation, and partnerships to help health systems and communities thrive amid pressing planetary challenges.

Our primary focus areas

Climate-resilient and sustainable health systems

We strengthen health systems across Asia to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from climate impacts – while not creating pollution and harming the planet.

Leading an Asia-Pacific Consortium on Climate-Resilient, Sustainable Health Systems commissioned by the World Health Organization’s Asia-Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
Analysing National Adaptation Plans through a health ethics lens, commissioned by the WHO and co-implemented with the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health.
Collaborating with various units of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre - Pathology, Nursing, Pharmacy, Allied Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) - to promote green healthcare practices

Beyond these initiatives, we continue to support countries with climate-health planning, capacity building, and implementation research across the region.

Climate change & health equity

We explore how climate change deepens health inequities, and find solutions to protect the health of vulnerable and frontline communities.

Co-convening the Connecting Climate Minds Eastern and Southeastern Asia Hub to advance research and advocate for mental resilience against climate change.
Pioneering research on heat stress and mental and physical health (including kidney disease) among farmers in Sri Lanka and Cambodia in collaboration with local universities and NGOs.
Identifying 95 health system interventions for promoting health among migrants, refugees, and displaced populations affected by climate change, documented in a global report and evidence brief commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Our broader work spans evidence generation, participatory research, and policy advocacy to address the intersection of climate, health, and equity.

Planetary health education and cross-sector collaboration

We equip health professionals and partners with the knowledge and tools to act on various planetary health problems.

‘Planetary Health: From Analysis to Action’ - a flagship week-long training module under the Graduate Certificate in Global Health Practice in Asia
Western Pacific Climate and Health Responder Course, co-organised with the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, attended by approximately 1,000 health professionals from across Asia-Pacific (materials can be downloaded here).
‘Conversations in Planetary Health’ , a monthly hybrid dialogue series connecting global and regional experts from diverse sectors and disciplines, with close to 2,000 signups since June 2024.

We continue to grow this community through joint Events, academic exchanges, and emerging work in planetary health diplomacy.

Conversations in Planetary Health

Webinar Series

Watch the Webinars

Publications

Journal Articles

Bioethics for the planet. W Anderson, J Troy, T Lucas, A Capon, P Komesaroff, JB Callicott, J Cole, J Dunk, RR Guinto, DS Jones, E Kowal, SL Prescott, N Redvers, C Richie, SM Sawyer, J Sheather, S Sörlin, MY Tan, M Torwali, R Upshur, A Wardrope, V Wild. The Lancet, July 29, 2025.
The Lancet One Health Commission: Harnessing our interconnectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems. AS Winkler, CM Brux, H Carabiz, CG das Neves, B Häsler, J Zinsstag, EM Fèvre, A Okello, G Laing, WE Harrison, AK Pöntinen, A Huber, A Ruckert, B Natterson-Horowitz, B Abela, C Aenishaenslin, DL Heymann, EK Rødland, FCJ Berthe, I Capua, J Sejvar, J Lubroth, J Corander, J May, LF Roth, LF Thomas, L Blumberg, MK Lapinski, M Stone, MK Agbogbatey, N Xiao, OA Hassan, O Dar, P Daszak, RR Guinto, S Senturk, S Sahay, TA Samuels, Y Wasteson, JH Amuasi. The Lancet, July 16, 2025.
Advancing Societally Engaged and International Planetary Health Education: Innovations, Lessons, and Recommendations for Educators. J Addison, E Mangnus, DJ Cunanan, GS Downward, L de Jong, J van de Kamp, CA Llamas, RR Guinto, JL Browne. Journal of Higher Education Outreach & Engagement, July 2, 2025.
Community boat service to promote institutional delivery in the Philippines: a mixed-methods study of a social innovation. W Shan, JD Tucker, C Ronsmans, JD Mier-Alpaño, A Ulitin, JRB Cruz, KN Abiertas, RR Guinto, M Labarda. BMJ Public Health, November 2, 2024.
Evaluating progress and accountability for achieving COP26 Health Programme international ambitions for sustainable, low-carbon, resilient health-care systems. IM Blom, FN Rasheed, H Singh, M Eckelman, M Dhimal, M Hensher, RR Guinto, A McGushin, X Ning, P Prabhakaran, M Romanello, D van Alphen, N Watts, J Yu, C Zavaleta-Cortijo, A MacNeill, J Sherman. The Lancet Planetary Health, October 2024.
Collective knowledge exchange through regional hubs: Local expertise, global platform. CA Llamas, R Guinto, J Addison, N Alam, HB Amoakoh, VA Arita, N Kolpa, J Mattijsen, Y Zhang, GS Downward, JL Browne. Tropical Medicine and International Health, September 10, 2024.
Artificial intelligence in the era of planetary health: insights on its application for the climate change-mental health nexus in the Philippines. RC Alibudbud, JJBR Aruta, KA Sison, RR Guinto. International Review of Psychiatry, May 29, 2024.
Can current interlinked crises stimulate the structural and policy choices required for healthy societies? K Rasanathan, Y Pillay, K Buse, G Carlsson, K Cloete, ME Garcia, RR Guinto, KTH Oanh, R Marten, A Nordstrom, R Ram, K Srinath Reddy, D Saminarsih, G Sen, S Singh, N Squires. The BMJ, April 8, 2024.
Reflections from COP28: Resisting healthwashing in climate change negotiations. A Singh, T Ezzine, RR Guinto, S Gepp, RM Parks, M Thondoo, P Patil, KR van Daalen. PLOS Global Public Health, March 28, 2024.

Reports and Book Chapters

Health system strengthening interventions to improve the health of displaced and migrant populations in the context of climate change. World Health Organization, with RR Guinto, D Aluquin, T Naqvi, et al. World Health Organization (WHO).
Strengthening health systems to improve the health of displaced and migrant populations in the context of climate change: Evidence brief. World Health Organization, with RR Guinto, D Aluquin, T Naqvi, et al. World Health Organization (WHO), November 7, 2024.

Commentaries and Blogs

No health without planetary health: reflections from New Delhi. M Khepla. International Health Policies, May 14, 2025.
We need climate-smart health workers to protect communities. RR Guinto and RA Junio-Balbutin. Devex, April 2, 2025.
Glo-cal health leadership: reflections from Japan. RR Guinto. PLOS Blogs – Speaking of Medicine and Health, February 4, 2025.
Making local health systems climate-resilient. RR Guinto. Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 10, 2024.
Health at center of transport and mobility. RR Guinto. Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 18, 2024.
Breastfeeding in the climate change era. RR Guinto. Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 29, 2024.
Protecting the Mental Health of Asians from Climate Change. RR Guinto and MP Kartika. Mental Health Innovation Network, July 29, 2024.
The next 50 years of Philippine labor migration. RR Guinto. Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 23, 2024.
Preparing for a Future of Extreme Heat Waves. RR Guinto. Project Syndicate, July 17, 2024.

PH Memberships

Our stories

Harvesting in the heat: listening to Sri Lanka's climate frontliners

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Our stories

Advancing Planetary Health: Dr Renzo Guinto receives top honour in Tokyo

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Get in touch

For more information about our planetary health initiative, please contact us at sdghi@duke-nus.edu.sg.

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