The Institute of Global Health Innovation is delighted to be hosting a special guest lecture from Renzo Guinto MD DrPH, Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Public Health and Inaugural Director of the Planetary and Global Health Programme at St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines as well as Chief Planetary Health Scientist and Co-Founder of the newly established Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Perspectives from the Climate Frontlines in the Philippines
The world’s mental health has undoubtedly been negatively impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, in recent years, there has also been growing recognition of the emerging impacts of climate change not only on physical but mental health. The global health sector now must therefore dramatically increase its investments in mental health systems to tackle the rising mental health pandemic.
Moreover, mental health is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for the evolving space of planetary health, which recognises the inextricable connection between the health of people and the planet.
This seminar will discuss the nexus of mental health, climate change, and planetary health using perspectives and experiences from the Philippines, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries which is already bearing the brunt of the climate emergency – both its physical and mental health consequences, and explore opportunities for international collaboration in research, education, and advocacy to advance planetary mental health.
The event will be opened by Dr Emma Lawrance, IGHI Mental Health Innovations Fellow.
There will be a live Q&A with the opportunity to ask questions.
About Renzo Guinto
Renzo Guinto, MD DrPH is a member of the National Panel of Technical Experts of the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines; member of the Advisory Board of Climate Cares based at Imperial College London; and convener of Planetary Health Philippines – a community of Filipino scholars and practitioners for advancing the new discipline of planetary health.
An Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader and Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow, Renzo is a member of several international groups including the Lancet–Chatham House Commission on Improving Population Health post COVID-19 (University of Cambridge) and Lancet One Health Commission (University of Oslo). He has served as consultant for various organisations including: World Health Organization; WHO Foundation; World Bank; USAID; International Organization for Migration; and Health Care Without Harm. He also sits on the editorial boards of The Lancet Planetary Health; PLOS Global Public Health; Journal of Climate Change and Health; and Journal of Migration and Health.
Renzo has traveled to and lectured in nearly 60 countries and 100 universities across the world; published more than 150 articles in scientific journals, books, and popular media; and directed and produced short films that communicate the message of planetary healing to the world. In 2020, he was included by Tatler Magazine in its Gen.T List of 400 leaders of tomorrow who are shaping Asia’s future.
Event details
The event will be held in-person on campus. The event is open to all attendees.
Please note that this lecture will no longer be streamed live due to staff shortages.
The venue will be Skempton Building LT201 (second floor), South Kensington Campus.
Registration for the in-person event is required due to strict limited capacity and places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.