Contributors: Jun Deng  Reviewed by: Zhoumin Wu, Ailan Liu, Lei Wu

On June 3, 2026, the School of Public Health at Nanchang University hosted the 25th Weidao Forum, held as part of the 274th Mentor Forum of the 16th “Qianhu Research Talk” Graduate Academic Culture Festival. The forum featured Prof. Yuan’an Lu, tenured professor and Chair of Environmental Health at the University of Hawaii, who delivered a lecture titled “Global Health Challenges in a Changing World: Environmental Connection”. The session was chaired by Lei Wu, Associate Dean of the School, and was attended by more than 50 faculty members and students.

Prof. Lu define the environment as a three-dimensional combination of natural, built, and sociocultural environments. He systematically examined how climate change, urbanization, and biodiversity loss are reshaping the global disease spectrum through complex mechanisms. A striking set of data revealed that approximately 23% of all premature deaths worldwide can be attributed to preventable environmental factors, claiming around 13 million lives each year, with indoor air pollution being the single largest contributor. Even more alarming, environmental risks show a markedly unequal distribution globally — low-income countries bear a heavy double burden of infectious diseases and environmental hazards.

In response to these challenges, Prof. Lu proposed a systematic strategy of “multi-sectoral collaboration and proactive prevention.” He emphasized that addressing the environmental health crisis cannot rely on medical interventions alone; instead, it requires deep integration among governments, businesses, and society in policy-making, urban planning, and ecological protection. From promoting renewable energy to building resilient healthcare systems, global cooperation remains the only pathway to sustainable development.

During the discussion session, faculty and students engaged in a lively exchange with Prof. Lu on topics such as how developing countries can balance development and health, and how to put the One Health concept into practice. Participating students noted that the lecture closely connected grand global issues with concrete public health practices, significantly broadening their academic horizons and deepening their understanding that the environment is the foundational logic of health.

The forum provided participants with deeper insight into environmental health challenges and their global implications, while further broadening academic perspectives on key issues in global health. The School of Public Health will continue to invite high-level experts from home and abroad to build a high-quality academic exchange platform for faculty and students.