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The “Public Symposium ‘Environmental Risk and Justice'” was held on March 21, 2025, at the Sonic City Hall Small Hall in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, co-organized by the Environmental Risk Subcommittee of the Science Council of Japan under the Committee on Environmental Studies and Committee on Health and Life Sciences and the 95th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Hygiene. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Planetary Health Alliance Japan Hub.

Purpose

Environmental risks are examined using scientific evidence, including the impact on people and ecosystems, and decisions are made based on social consensus. It is recognized that the process of reaching this social consensus requires not only scientific knowledge but also collaboration with the humanities and social sciences. The theme of this symposium was “environmental justice,” with the aim of fostering discussions with various stakeholders involved in decision-making regarding environmental risks. The impact of environmental risks on people and ecosystems may be particularly severe for those who are socially and economically vulnerable. Environmental justice considers factors that hinder fairness, such as poverty and inequality around the world. At this symposium, we discussed environmental justice, taking into account the humanities background.

Chairpersons

Dr. Kayo Ueda (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University)

Dr. Keiko Nakamura (Professor, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo)

Program

Opening address and aims of the symposium: Dr. Keiko Nakamura

Keynote lecture: “Planetary Justice”

Dr. Makoto Usami (Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University)

Panel discussion: “Planetary health from the perspective of environmental risk management”

• Climate change and health in mountainous regions of Vietnam

Dr. Saori Kashima (Director, Planetary Health Innovation Science Center (PHIS), IDEC International Collaboration Organization, Hiroshima University / Associate Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University)

• Approach to planetary health diet

Dr. Fumiko Kasuga (Graduate School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University / Professor, Interdisciplinary Planetary Health Studies)

• International chemical management

Dr. Kenkichi Fujii (Principal Researcher, Research and Development Division, Kao Corporation / Director, Research Strategy and Planning Department)

Closing address: Dr. Masahiro Hashizume (Professor of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo)

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