ISGlobal Will Coordinate the European Secretariat of the Planetary Health Alliance Starting in 2026

The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation, will serve as the Secretariat of the Planetary Health Europe Regional Hub of the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) from 2026 to 2028. The announcement was made during the Alliance’s annual meeting, held in Rotterdam from 7 to 10 October. The Planetary Health Alliance brings together more than 500 organisations from over 80 countries that are committed to understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on human health.

Secretariat functions will be carried out through a collaborative cluster integrating science, education, public policy, and healthcare, consisting of:

• The Planetary Health Development Centre, a joint initiative of ISGlobal and the Mollet Health Foundation (FSM).
• Mollet’s Health Foundation (FSM), recognized for its track record in environmental sustainability.
• The Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of Catalonia (CADS), which connects planetary health with public policy.
• The Barcelona Medical Association (COMB), which engages medical professionals in the planetary health movement.
• The Open University of Catalonia (UOC), which together with ISGlobal and Pompeu Fabra University offers a master’s program focused on planetary health.

In recent years, these institutions have worked closely to promote and strengthen planetary health in Catalonia.

“We see the European Secretariat as an opportunity to reinforce collaboration among existing actors and initiatives, help connect ongoing projects, and contribute to a more coherent, visible, and inclusive European planetary health movement,” says Josep Maria Antó, Research Professor at ISGlobal.

The European Secretariat of the PHA will be managed by the Planetary Health Development Centre, based at the Mollet Hospital (Barcelona), serving as the cluster’s technical secretariat. From this center, synergies among European partners will be promoted, and projects connecting research with transformative action in planetary health will be driven.

Commitment and track record in planetary health

With more than a decade of active participation in the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), including co-chairing the Education Working Group, ISGlobal has demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to planetary health.

The Selection Committee responsible for appointing the Secretariat, composed of experts from various international organizations in the sector, highlighted ISGlobal’s leadership, capacity, and vision, fully aligned with the mission of the Planetary Health Alliance. The institution was chosen based on five evaluation criteria: institutional commitment and capacity, experience in planetary health, integration into collaborative networks, leadership and strategy, and diversity and inclusion.