World Forum for Women in Science – Japan/12th International Conference for Women in Science without Borders (WISWB)

Chair:Saori Kashima(IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University), Yoko Shimpuku(Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University)

The planet’s natural systems are undergoing unprecedented change, driven by climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. These environmental transformations are increasingly affecting human health through multiple pathways, including weather patterns, food systems, water resources, living environments, and ecosystems. In response to these pressing challenges, the concept of Planetary Health—recognising the inseparable relationship between human health and the health of Earth systems—has emerged and is gaining global recognition.However, the impacts of these environmental changes are not experienced equally by all people. The increasing frequency of droughts and natural disasters is having particularly direct and severe effects on the daily lives of people in Pacific Island nations and equatorial regions. At the same time, ongoing conflicts and political instability in many parts of the world are accelerating environmental degradation while weakening healthcare and public health systems. These conditions threaten the foundations of life for people living in conflict zones and place vulnerable populations—particularly women and children who require support—at heightened risk to their health.Under such compounding crises, the protection of the right to health and fundamental human rights faces profound challenges. Traditional human rights frameworks have largely focused on human beings themselves. In contrast, the perspective of Planetary Health positions the protection of the Earth’s environment—upon which human health fundamentally depends—as an indispensable precondition for the realisation of human rights.Against this backdrop, this session examines Planetary Health from a “Justice” perspective, bringing together the lenses of women’s health, peacebuilding, and human rights to explore, from a transdisciplinary approach, how both humanity and the planet can achieve and sustain health and well-being.