ASM Shares Malaysia’s Planetary Health Experience

On 28 August 2026, ASM hosted a cross-learning exchange with representatives from the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health (SCPH) and Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI) on Malaysia’s experience in developing the National Planetary Health Action Plan (NPHAP).

With the Chair of NPHAP, Academician Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail FASc, leading the engagement, ASM shared insights into Malaysia’s whole-of-nation approach to advancing planetary health and key lessons from developing NPHAP.

The engagement strengthened regional knowledge-sharing between Malaysia and Indonesia, providing a platform to exchange experiences, build collective capacity, and explore closer collaboration to address shared planetary health challenges and build a more resilient, sustainable region.

The NPHAP represents a significant national effort to realign development with planetary boundaries while safeguarding human and ecological health. Mandated by the National Science Council in 2022 and led by ASM under MOSTI, the NPHAP provides a holistic, Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE)-driven framework to mainstream planetary health across national policies and plans.

The NPHAP complements the 13^th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), which strongly emphasises rakyat wellbeing and environmental sustainability, including efforts to preserve planetary health, strengthen climate resilience, conserve biodiversity, and advance the circular economy.

As the first national planetary health action plan of its kind in ASEAN and among the most comprehensive planetary health strategies globally, the NPHAP adopts a whole-of-nation approach.

NPHAP is built around six Key Result Areas and guided by four principles: humanity-centric, STI-enabled, nature-based, and values-driven. The plan includes 53 strategies and 222 action plans to strengthen ecosystem health, community resilience, and long-term economic sustainability.