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Welcome to the first Planetary Health Cluster Newsletter
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Planetary health is a growing field that recognises the close interconnections between human health and the condition of our planet’s natural systems. Human activities
impact the environment, altering for example, air quality, water supplies, food security, and climate stability and these impacts, in turn, affect human health.
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The Planetary Health Cluster brings together five EU-funded projects – GoGreen Next, SPRINGS, TULIP, MOSAIC, and PLANET4 HEALTH – each focusing on different aspects of how environmental degradation impacts
health. Launched in July 2024 under the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-HLTH-2023-ENVHLTH-02-01, the cluster collaborates to strengthen synergies and increase the overall impact of research and innovation in this important area.
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Through joint research and innovation strategies, policy briefs, and workshops, the cluster aims to support evidence-based policy development at both European and global levels. Our working groups focus on
key areas such as translating science into policy, data methodologies, communication, planetary health related indicators and evidence-based interventions.
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In this first newsletter, we provide an overview of the cluster’s objectives, recent progress, and upcoming activities. We also feature interviews with the coordinators
of the five projects to offer insights into their specific approaches and contributions. We invite interested readers and stakeholders to stay connected via our website and newsletter as we continue to advance understanding and solutions at the intersection
of environmental and human health. Let us know what you think of our work!
Visit our
website
and follow us on
LinkedIn.
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Vanessa Harris
SPRINGS
Cluster Co-Coordinator
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Suzanna Belsic
PLANET4HEALTH
Cluster Co-Coordinator
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The Cluster aims to support evidence-based policy that advances global planetary health. We achieve this by disseminating our research
to decision-makers and by co-organising events and workshops. In June 2025, we had a productive exchange with the European Climate-Health Cluster, presented our work to members of the European Parliament, and successfully held our very first Thematic Workshop.
Read more about these latest activities below.
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Planetary Health Cluster meets in Brussels
to strengthen collaboration and drive policy impact
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On 3 June 2025, the PlanetaryHealth Cluster took part in a high-level event at the European Parliament in Brussels, organised by the European Climate-Health Cluster,
which convened leading researchers and policymakers to discuss the urgent intersection of climate change and public health. Representing the SPRINGS project and the Planetary Health Cluster, co-coordinator Vanessa Harris underscored the Cluster’s role in deepening
understanding of the complex links between environmental degradation and human health, urging policy makers to stay informed the Cluster’s research-based recommendations for Europe and low-income countries alike.
In the afternoon, members of both the Climate-Health Cluster and the Planetary Health Cluster came together for a dedicated session to strengthen mutual understanding
of their projects, objectives, and anticipated outcomes. A central theme of the discussion was how to increase collective political impact.
The following day, the Planetary Health Cluster held a full-day internal workshop focused on learning, exchange, and developing a shared vision.
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Working Groups (WG) Updates
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The Planetary Health Cluster is structured into 3 working groups on topics of shared interest and research between its 5 projects.
Discover more about their activities and achievements in the last months.
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WG 1: Science Translation for Policy and Practice
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The
Science Translation for Policy and Practice Working Group
is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among the five projects of the Planetary Health Cluster:
GoGreenNext,
SPRINGS, TULIP,
MOSAIC, and
PLANET4HEALTH.This group focuses on bridging the gap between scientific research and actionable solutions to address planetary health challenges.
Key responsibilities of the Working Group include:
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Developing a joint strategy: Establishing a shared vision that integrates Planetary Health
and One Health principles when considering best practice in the conduct of interdisciplinary research toaddress policy maker needs
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Supporting the integration of policy impact considerations into the Cluster’s research:
Ensuring that research efforts across the cluster are cognistant of the barriers and facilitators to achieving research impact, and highlighting specific aspects affecting planetary health through dedicated policy briefs.
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Facilitating knowledge exchange: Organising thematic workshops and trainings to promote
interdisciplinary learning and integration of diverse scientific perspectives.
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Supporting policy-relevant research: Aligning scientific endeavors with policy needs
to inform evidence-based decision-making at various governance levels.
Through these activities, the Science Translation for Policy and Practice Working Group aims to enhance the collective impact of the cluster’s research, contributing to the development
of sustainable and actionable solutions for planetary health.
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Data Methodologies Working Group is dedicated to enhancing data mapping, inter-operability and accessibility of data across research domains
in Planetary Health, building on the experiences and needs of the Cluster’s five projects. Recognising the diverse data landscapes across these projects, the group is working to establish a unified framework that facilitates alignment in data practices through
the sharing of metadata, best practices on FAIR data principles, data security and ethical standards, as well as links and unique identifiers to openly available data and code.
Main Activities
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- Common Data Management Plan (DMP)
The cluster-wide DMP is now complete, providing clear guidance on data governance, sharing protocols, metadata standards, and alignment
with FAIR principles. It serves as a foundational document for all data-related activities across the five projects.
- Operational Data Mapping Instrument
The data mapping instrument is fully developed and currently being populated by each project. This tool enables the identification of data types, formats, and sources,
improving visibility across the cluster and supporting harmonisation efforts.
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- Ongoing Data Harmonisation
Projects are applying shared metadata standards and persistent identifiers to ensure interoperability. These efforts are aimed at facilitating
cross-project analyses and improving the quality and comparability of results.
- Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
The group is actively supporting teams through internal guidance, knowledge exchange sessions, and documentation on FAIR data practices,
ethical data use, and open science.
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Sub-Group on Indicator Development
The Sub-Group on Indicator Development is creating a set of harmonised planetary
health indicators to monitor and assess progress across cluster activities.
Focus Indicator Development Areas
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Defining core indicators across environmental, health, and social domains
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Aligning methodologies for consistency and comparability
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Linking indicators to underlying datasets through the data
Next steps include piloting selected indicators within ongoing project work and publishing a framework to support their broader application in planetary health research
and policy.
Through these initiatives, the Data Methodologies Working Group aims to create a cohesive data ecosystem that not only enhances the quality and efficiency of research
within the cluster but also contributes to the broader goals of planetary health by supporting informed decision-making and policy development.
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WG 3: Communication and Dissemination
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The
Communication and Dissemination Working Group plays an essential role in shaping the Planetary Health Cluster’s public presence and outreach. This group is responsible for developing and implementing
strategies that communicate the cluster’s objectives, activities, and findings to a broad audience, including policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
Since its launch, the Working Group has made significant progress. It has developed a comprehensive communication strategy to guide all outreach activities, launched
the cluster’s official LinkedIn channel through which we communicate on the cluster and its 5 projects, and designed a dedicated website to serve as a central information hub.
Additionally, a brochure has been produced to introduce the cluster’s mission and projects to stakeholders at conferences and events. These steps have laid the groundwork
for engagement with our diverse audiences and for raising awareness of the Cluster’s work across Europe.
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Interviews with Planetary Health
Cluster Project Coordinators
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Learn more about our five projects as the coordinators explain their objectives, key achievements to date, and how each
project relates to the Cluster.
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Interview with Emmanuel Roux, MOSAIC
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Emmanuel Roux, MOSAIC Coordinator
Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
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The MOSAIC project, coordinated by Emmanuel Roux at IRD, explores how Open Science can enhance transdisciplinary health approaches for effective and impactful implementation.
Over 18 months, MOSAIC has engaged local academic, non-academic, and traditional stakeholders in East Africa and the Amazon, including Maasaï herders and Indigenous
communities. Achievements include surveying Maasaï perceptions of animal-human-ecosystem health, cataloguing public policies, developing a meta-data model, and initiating data infrastructure to enable data discovery and use.
The project builds models to simulate wildlife movements and environmental impacts, empowering vulnerable communities with knowledge to develop feasible, sustainable
adaptation and mitigation solutions.
Through the Planetary Health Cluster, MOSAIC seeks collaboration, conceptual consensus, and increased visibility for Global South partners. The Cluster supports EU
policy by consolidating scientific evidence to hold authorities accountable for equitable, health-promoting actions worldwide while fostering stakeholders’ capacity to inform policies with locally relevant solutions.
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Interview with Vanessa Harris, SPRINGS
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Dr Vanessa Harris, SPRINGS Coordinator
Infectious Disease Specialist, Amsterdam University Medical Centre
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The SPRINGS project, coordinated by Dr. Vanessa Harris at Amsterdam UMC, unites diverse scientists to study how climate change affects
water quality, quantity, and diarrheal disease risk.
Over the past 18 months, the team has built a shared language across disciplines and engaged communities, such as in Akuse, Ghana, to understand local perceptions.
Fieldwork includes collecting drinking water samples and tracking diarrheal disease in Naples (Italy) and Haydom (Tanzania), as well as assessing water quality in Timisoara (Romania).
In parallel, SPRINGS has started to evaluate interventions across environmental and health sectors, working closely with local stakeholders to identify approaches
that are both effective and contextually appropriate — both for today and for the future.
The SPRINGS project will leverage the Planetary Health Cluster as a valuable resource to address shared challenges and develop collaborative solutions. The project
also hopes to inform EU policy by providing evidence on urgent planetary health issues, aiming to protect both human health and ecosystems for a sustainable future.
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Interview with Stefano Campostrini and
Suzana Blesic, PLANET4HEALTH
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Stefano Campostrini, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, PLANET4HEALTH Co-Coordinator &
Suzana Blesic,
Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade, PLANET4HEALTH Co-Coordinator
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The PLANET4HEALTH project integrates climate and environmental science, technology, social and political sciences, and policy studies to address four case studies:
vector-borne diseases (Iberian Peninsula), air pollution and health (South Africa), food safety and PFAS pollution (Central Europe), and mental wellbeing in environmental contexts.
Over 18 months, focus has been on vector-borne diseases, with research on canine leishmaniasis in Portugal and Spain aiming to develop an Early Warning System for
veterinarians and dog owners, and on air pollution impacts on children under five in South Africa.
As Cluster co-coordinators, PLANET4HEALTH contributes multidisciplinary expertise, promoting trans-sectoral collaboration and broader impact on planetary, animal,
and human health.
The project sees the Cluster as key in shaping EU policies by providing evidence-based insights for targeted planetary health interventions at local to global scales,
enabling effective, specific actions alongside overarching climate strategies.
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Interview with Joacim Rocklöv and
Marina Treskova, TULIP
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Dr Marina Treskova; Eco-epidemiology Junior Group Leader, University of Heidelberg,
TULIP Coordinator & Joacim Rocklöv; Director, University Heidelberg PlanetaryHealth Hub, TULIP Coordinator
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The TULIP Project (“Community-based Engagement and Interventions to Stem Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquatic Environments Catalysed by Climate Change and Plastic
Pollution”) addresses antimicrobial resistance (AMR), plastic pollution, and climate change.
Over 18 months, TULIP has developed protocols, SOPs, and launched fieldwork in Italy and the Philippines, integrating environmental science, social science, molecular
biology, and policy to create practical solutions.
Its goals include quantifying interactions between plastic, climate, and AMR, building predictive models, implementing nature-based solutions, and translating research
into policy tools. Activities include stakeholder co-production workshops, capacity building between Europe and the Philippines, and modelling efforts using machine learning and hydrological data.
TULIP’s collaboration with the Planetary Health Cluster enhances policy impact, supports EU priorities such as the Zero Pollution Action Plan and Water Framework
Directive, and strengthens integrated approaches to human, animal, and ecosystem health challenges.
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Interview with Tadhg MacIntyre, GoGreen Next
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Dr Tadhg MacIntyre, GoGreen Next Coordinator
Environmental Psychologist, Maynooth University
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The GoGreen Next project investigates the interplay between climate change and environmental and human health through policy analysis and localised interventions.
Over 18 months, researchers conducted site visits in Cork (IE), Klagenfurt (AT), Päijät-Häme (FI), and Malta, using walking interviews with diverse stakeholders to
identify nature-based solutions tailored to community needs. Project champions were recruited as ambassadors to co-create tools and inspire others.
Training in science communication, citizen science, and conservation is integral to the initiative. GoGreen Next emphasises diversity, with 63% women leaders and
early career researchers holding key roles, fostering inclusivity and future-focused innovation. The project’s internal GoGreen Next Academy advances training on inclusive methodologies.
Collaboration with the Planetary Health Cluster supports EU policy by bridging the science-policy gap, planning workshops on One Health and Planetary Health, and
engaging with MEPs and EU bodies to ensure research translates into impactful policies, especially ahead of Ireland’s 2026 EU Presidency.
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Resources
Explore our Resources and learn more about the Cluster
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Planetary Health Cluster © 09/2025
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