From 7 – 10 October, scientists, policymakers, and professionals from around the world gathered in Rotterdam for the Planetary Health Annual Meeting 2025 (PHAM 2025). The message was clear: we need to change how we treat our planet, and healthcare plays a key role in this. Not only by promoting health, but also by reducing pollution as a sector.
PHAM focuses not on doomsday scenarios, but on hope and collaboration. Only together can we accelerate system change towards a healthier planet and people.
Opening Ceremony
The official opening set a powerful tone for the four-day conference and emphasised shared responsibility, collaboration, and the urgency of taking action.
- Chiara Cadeddu, co-chair of PHAM and affiliated with the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) and the Planetary Health Alliance: “We have gathered here to act against the intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and health inequalities. I am convinced that, with Dutch leadership and global collaboration, among others, we can find solutions to these crises.”
- Marie Studer, co-chair of PHAM and Senior Advisor to the Planetary Health Alliance: “PHAM 2025 marks a new phase of progress. We must create urgency for the Great Transition to a just future for all.”
- Wopke Hoekstra (EU Commissioner for Climate Action): “We must accelerate the transition and make Europe stronger, healthier, and more prosperous with green solutions.”
- Maarten IJzerman (Dean of ESHPM): “Climate change is having devastating effects on health. Excess mortality and premature births due to heat waves and droughts, or vector-borne diseases (e.g. through mosquitoes), are just a few examples. Despite political headwinds, we cannot give up and must collaborate with local governments and cities to create positive momentum for change.”
- Jantine Schuit (Rector Magnificus of Erasmus University Rotterdam): “Planetary Health is both a scientific topic and a moral imperative. Our students will experience the long-term consequences of today's choices. They remind us that sustainability is not just about policy or infrastructure, but also about values: how we teach, how we lead, and how we care for each other and the planet.”
- Pim Martens (KNAW): “We must move from neutral observers to active co-creators of change. We must become scientivists (scientists and activists), committed to acquiring knowledge and promoting societal change.”
- Walter Ricciardi (Università Cattolica): “Courage is contagious, and change doesn't start with everyone. It starts with someone, and that someone is you.”
From inspiration to impact
For four days, science, policy, art, and practice came together in sessions and workshops. For the first time, the theme of Diversity & Inclusion was on the agenda, with a special focus on the voices of indigenous peoples.
Dutch strengths such as water management, sustainable food systems, and urban innovation received ample attention. A highlight was the SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) programme, which demonstrated how entrepreneurship translates scientific knowledge into sustainable solutions.
The conference yielded concrete results, including:
- Policy papers for European and international institutions.
- An SME roadmap for innovation in Planetary Health.
- New networks between science, government, and business.
- Educational and communication strategies to raise awareness about Planetary Health.
- More information
PHAM 2025 was organised by Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), the Planetary Health Alliance, and a global network of research institutions, NGOs, governments, and innovators. Visit www.pham2025.com, LinkedIn or follow #PHAM2025 on social media.
