In recognition of World Environmental Health Day on September 26, the global community united to shed light on the intricate connections between humans, animals, and environmental health. In recognition of this occasion, EMPHNET hosted a webinar that brought together experts working under the One Health approach to unravel the intricate web of interdependence that exists between these three crucial elements of our ecosystem.

This webinar was organized as part of a series of One Health Webinars launched by EMPHNET and Research Triangle International (RTI) in July 2023. The first of these webinars, hosted in July 2023, is titled "Sustaining Meaningful Multisectoral Collaboration for One Health: Conditions for Success”. Now, on World Environmental Health Day 2023, EMPHNET, RTI, and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) Environmental Health Working Group (EHWG) joined forces to host a sequel that delves deeper into the critical aspects of environmental health.

The second webinar in the series, titled “Championing Global Environmental Public Health: Safeguarding Wellness for All, Every Day”, was held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. The session had dual focus. First, it explored successful Environmental Health Initiatives within the One Health framework by offering valuable insights and lessons learned from the world. Second, it provided a platform for participants to engage in thought-provoking discussions, brainstorming policy, and practical solutions to mitigate environmental health risks.

The webinar took the form of a panel discussion, featuring three subject experts namely, Climate-health Expert and Professor at the University of Washington Center for Health and the Global Environment, Dr. Kristie L. Ebi; Founder of Linda Mazingira Initiative Kenya and Forest Conservation Committee Member representing Civil Society Organizations in Kenya involved in Conversation and Climate Change Action, Mr. Patrick Ikwara; Prior Regional One Health Officer for Africa and current One Health Global Coordinator and Senior Specialist for the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Dr. Chadia Wannous. Furthermore, the session was facilitated by Co-Chair for the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), Environmental Health Working Group (EHWG), Ms. Hannah Marcus.

Ms. Marcus gave an overview of the importance of World Environment Day. She also defined what the One Health approach is, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, stating that it is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment. She also highlighted EMPHNET contribution to promoting One Health Approach in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and beyond including developing two operational guides on One Health and on Climate Change.

In her presentation, Dr. Wannous highlighted how recently the interest in One Health has been used to address drivers of health risks. She explained how this approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health, thus emphasizing the need for collaboration across sectors and disciplines. Dr. Wannous also introduced the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA), a five-year plan to advance One Health. She presented the “Nature for Health” (N4H) initiative, formed by eight founding partners. This initiative aims to prevent pandemics by addressing the linkage between climate change, environment, and health. Dr. Wannous also provided insights into N4H's work in Mongolia, and the "Ecoregions Project" (PROVNA) led by WOAH, which monitors vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in North Africa.

Drawing from their academic and practical work, the other panelists shared examples of successful environmental health initiatives under the One Health approach. Dr. Ebi discussed her research on the upstream drivers of health, particularly in vulnerable urban populations. She highlighted the impact of factors like the presence of trees on heat-related issues in low-income areas and emphasized the need for a systems-based approach to address complex health challenges.

Dr. Ebi stressed the importance of partnerships beyond the health sector, including collaboration with meteorologists and climatologists for climate-resilient tree planting initiatives. Dr. Wannous echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of sustainable funding and political support to address environmental challenges effectively.

Regarding challenges and opportunities in the scope of environmental health and climate change, Dr. Ebi and Dr. Wannous discussed strategies including integrating climate change and health responsibilities into job descriptions and leveraging funding from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They also highlighted the importance of early warning systems, supported by organizations like the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

From his end, Mr. Ikwara from Kenya shared insights on initiatives and strategies related to climate change and health. He talked about indigenous knowledge and building capacity within communities and ensuring that local people understand the importance of tree planting and environmental conservation. He added that financing and the development of clear models for financing climate change initiatives is important, especially for youth and community organizations involved in environmental conservation.

Following the discussion, Ms. Marcus facilitated the Q&A session. Around 100 participants attended the webinar, deeming it another success in the EMPHNET WEBi Series.

In their closing remarks, the panelists stressed the significance of community engagement, particularly with indigenous populations. They also spoke about the adoption of holistic approaches like "One Health" to effectively address environmental challenges. Finally, Ms. Marcus thanked the participants ‘for their contributions and encouraged continued efforts toward their important objectives.