Programme

Opening the Congress

14.00-14.25

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Krista Mikkonen: Opening words
Rector of the University of Helsinki, Jari Niemelä: Opening words

Session 1: Crossing boundaries to reach solutions 

Chaired by Professor Tari Haahtela, Hospital District of Helsinki
14.30-16.30

Prof. Ilona Otto, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, Austria: Social tipping dynamics for a rapid decarbonization

Assistant Prof.,Deputy Director Kristine Belesova, Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health and Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: How can research contribute to transformational change?  

Solutions: 

Prof. Juha Pekkanen, University of Helsinki, Finnish institute for health and welfare (THL): Sustainable and Healthy Buildings in the Changing Climate: Balancing Costs and Benefits 

Research Professor Suvi Virtanen, Finnish institute for health and welfare (THL): How to promote sustainable food systems and healthy and safe eating in young children 

Secretary-General Liisa Rohweder, WWF-Finland: Our life depends on nature

Discussion 

Session 2: How  the environment affects health 

Chaired by Chief Researcher Jaana Halonen, The Finnish Institute of Health

9.00-10.45

Prof. Liisa Tyrväinen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE): The health benefits of nature  

Lecturer Daniela Fecht, Geospatial Health at the UK Small Area Health Statistics Unit, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London: The built environment and child health

Solutions: 

Adj. professor Kimmo Saarinen, South Karelia Allergy and Environment Institute: Practical example of joining forces into long-term action: The Finnish allergy & asthma program 

D.Med.Sc. / BSc in Env. Sciences Jaana Laisi, University of Helsinki: Promoting sustainable well-being and health in health care (child health center experiment in Lahti)

Discussion  

Session 3: Climate change and human health   

Chaired by Eeva Furman, Director of the Finnish Environment Institute

11.15-13.00

Prof. Markku Kulmala, University of Helsinki: IPCC and health

Member of the European Parliament Sirpa Pietikäinen: What is being done at the EU level to achieve sustainable living

Solutions: 

Project Director Markus Terho, Sitra: How to inspire people to live a good, sustainable life? 

Project manager Anna Huttunen, City of Lahti: the personal carbon trade application CitiCAP  

Discussion

Session 4: Healthy and sustainable urban areas for humans 

Chaired by Professor Ian MacGregor-Fors, University of Helsinki

14.00-16.00

Prof. Dagmar Haase, Humboldt University : Global urbanization and its impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity and recent green infrastructure planning efforts in cities  

Prof. Heikki Setälä, University of Helsinki: Air quality, urban green spaces, and health

Solutions: 

 Research Scientist Aki Sinkkonen, Finnish Natural Resources Institute (LUKE): Urban greening interventions and land use as tools to enhance immune modulation of urban dwellers 

Program Director Saara Vauramo, City of Lahti: Story of Lahti European Green Capital 2021 - from exploitation to love of nature

Discussion  

Extra Session: LahtiPlan

16.30-18.30

Professor Tari Haahtela, Hospital District of Helsinki: Health and nature

Unveiling the LahtiPlan

Public Panel event (in Finnish): Ympäristö ja terveys 

Session 5:  Lessons learned from Covid19 pandemic   

Chaired by Professor Seppo Koskinen, the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare

9.00-10.45

Associate Professor Tarja Sironen, University of Helsinki: Infectious disease emergence from wildlife - factors enabling pandemics

D.Med.Sc. Jere Reijula, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS): Lessons learned from the COVID19 pandemic - Real-life experience in the clinics

Solutions:

Professor Davey Jones, Bangor University: New methods: Coronavirus in waste water   

Work and Organizational Psychologist, Senior Research Scientist, Project Manager Virpi Ruohomäki, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL): Lessons learned from remote work and well-being during COVID-19 pandemic

Discussion  

Session 6: Clean waters and human health 

Chaired by Professor David Thomas, University of Helsinki 

11.15-13.00

Dr Mathew White, the European Centre for Environment and Human Health and chair of oceans, epidemiology and human health, University of Exeter Medical School : Blue spaces, health and well-being   

Prof. Alf Norkko, University of Helsinki : Health and the Baltic Sea

Solutions: 

Chief Specialist, Associate Professor Tarja Pitkänen, Water Microbiology Laboratory,The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Environmental Health, HOH Helsinki One Health, University of Helsinki: Public beach water surveillance in Finland  

Senior Researcher Kati Vierikko, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): Managing water in ecologically and socially sustainable ways in cities

Discussion   

Session 7: Sustainable and healthy food systems 

Chaired by Research Scientist Juha-Matti Katajajuuri, Natural Resources Institute Finland

14.00-15.45

Prof. Bodo Steiner, University of Helsinki: Innovative food value chains for sustainability  

Ministerial Adviser Hanna Mattila, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: a  Climate-friendly Food Programme 

Solutions: 

Associate Professor of Molecular Nutrition, Anne-Maria Pajari, Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki

Research professor Minna Kaljonen, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): Sustainable diets for all: How to tackle inequalities on our way to more sustainable and healthy food systems?

Discussion