The JHU-UPF Public Policy Center (PPC) participated in the 7th Planetary Health Alliance Annual Meeting (PHAM), held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from October 8–10, 2025.

The event brought together international experts to discuss innovative strategies to promote Planetary Health through science, policy, and collective action. JHU-UPF PPC co-director Joan Benach, research manager Ferran Muntané, and visiting researcher Eliana Martínez-Herrera, led the workshop “Rethinking Planetary Health Through Critical Transdisciplinary Research: Strategies and Challenges".

During the session, the speakers stimulated a conversation between participants on the importance of critical transdisciplinary research in the current socio-political and ecological crises, and the challenges that researchers can face when trying to carry out this kind of research. They also used the encounter as an opportunity to explore and develop effective strategies and approaches for carrying out critical transdisciplinary research for Planetary Health.

Drawing on learnings from the Eco-Social Determinants of Health Inequities (ESDHi) conference that was delivered by the JHU-UPF Public Policy Center in May of this year, the workshop focused on critical transdisciplinary research as a practical tool for stimulating policy and social change. The discussions were also linked to ongoing research developed within the GRES project, which examines justice dimensions of socio-ecological transitions, green sacrifice, and the political and territorial implications of low-carbon transitions in Europe, with a particular focus on Spain.

“During the workshop, we explored how today’s profound, intertwined political,
social, and ecological crises demand research that crosses disciplinary
boundaries and directly supports policy action. Drawing on the ESDHi Network,
we focused on critical transdisciplinarity as a practical, problem-solving
approach,” said Ferran Muntané.

He also highlighted how insights from the GRES project help connect Planetary Health research with debates on just transitions, governance, and environmental justice.

The session was enriched by the valuable contributions of researchers, students, and activists who shared their experiences and perspectives on transdisciplinary research for Planetary Health.

This participation reaffirms the JHU-UPF Public Policy Center’s commitment to promoting transdisciplinary, collaborative, and action-oriented approaches to address contemporary eco-social challenges and work towards achieving Planetary Health. It also reflects the Center’s engagement with research agendas such as GRES that critically interrogate the social, political, and territorial conditions under which sustainability transitions take place.

Learn more about the Planetary Health Alliance Annual Meeting: www.pham2025.com