NWA Building blocks for integrated policy on Planetary Health
The NWA programme Building blocks for integrated policy on Planetary Health is aimed at developing an approach that can be used in Dutch government policy to more comprehensively consider the impact of that policy on human and planetary health.
Background
Global environmental changes pose a threat to human health. Conversely, human healthcare is changing the global environment, through the release of greenhouse gases, for example. Planetary health is a research concept that explores the connection between the health of the planet, nature and people. This connection is highly complex, and important to consider in existing and new policies. Dutch government policy measures currently do not take sufficient account of their impact on planetary health. An integrated approach is needed that allows policies to be assessed for their combined impact on the planet, nature and people.
Aims
This NWA programme is aimed at developing an approach that can be used to ensure that Dutch government policy more comprehensively considers the intended and unintended impact of that policy on the planet, nature and people. The focus is on developing a widely applicable approach for Planetary Health Impact Assessment (PHIA). It is anticipated that this approach will build upon existing frameworks for Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These are previously developed methods to assess the impact of policy measures on human health and the environment.
Due to the importance of the connection between research, policy and practice, the programme requires collaboration between researchers from different disciplines (interdisciplinarity) and the entire knowledge chain (fundamental, applied, process-based and practice-oriented research). A transdisciplinary approach is also assured through collaboration, co-design and co-creation with societal parties.
Budget and duration
The available budget for this call for proposals totals € 2,865,000. On February 25th, 2026, one project was awarded. This project started the 1st of September 2026 with a duration of 5 years.
Co-creation and Integration of Planetary Health Impact Assessment in policy practice (CINPHIA)
Project lead: dr. Marleen Bekker (Wageningen University and Research)
Over the next 5 years, the CINPHIA consortium will develop, among others, a Planetary Health Compass to generate useful knowledge for feasible, integrated policies that protect and restore planetary health. Policy makers will use this compass to map out the possible effects of policy prior to decision-making, so that they can make timely adjustments. In addition, this will increase the involvement of citizens, civil society organisations and the business community in formulating clear and achievable goals.
‘CINPHIA’s mission,’ explains project lead Marleen Bekker, ‘is to facilitate a decisive joint approach to protecting our health and our living environment. By bringing together researchers, policymakers and professionals from various sectors with citizens, we want to ensure that important decisions always consider what is good for both people and the planet.’
Collaboration
The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) is implementing this thematic programme of the Dutch National Research Agenda (NWA) in collaboration with NWO. Initiators of this programme are the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Committee members
- prof. dr. Johan Mackenbach (emeritus, Erasmus MC)
- dr. Lea den Broeder (emeritus, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, RIVM)
- dr. Sjaak de Gouw (gepensioneerd, GGD Hollands Midden)
- Rob Smal (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy)
- dr. Laurens Hondema (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport)
- dr. Yvonne de Kluizenaar (SCP)
- prof. dr. Tamara Metze (TU Delft)
- dr. Charlotte Bekker (Radboud UMC)
- dr. Martijn van der Steen (RVS, NSOB)