Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in conjunction with well-being in its constitution immediately after World War II. Initially, well-being was not discussed independently, but it later came to be discussed alongside health, and now the WHO has published a charter for well-being. On the other hand, the concept of planetary health is by no means new, but it has only been the subject of global debate since 2014. There has been much discussion about how human health is closely linked to the health of the planet as a whole and how the sustainability of humanity depends on a rich natural environment and wise resource management. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the limitations of strategies that have prioritized human health. It has become widely recognized that the current natural environment is deteriorating at an unprecedented rate and that both the health of the planet and that of humans are in a critical state. Amidst this major upheaval, we have become aware of the significant impact of climate change, environmental pollution, the biodiversity crisis, food issues, water shortages, soil degradation, and natural disasters on human health and well-being. The COVID-19 has reaffirmed the fact that infectious diseases know no national borders and the need for international cooperation in the field of health and medical care. Considering the possibility that unknown emerging infectious diseases may spread globally in the future, there are limits to a perspective that focuses solely on providing healthcare services to approximately 8 billion people. It is essential to adopt a perspective that considers human health and well-being while addressing the health of the planet itself, such as climate change and biodiversity, with consideration for all life on Earth, including livestock, wild animals, bacteria, viruses, and plants. This perspective, known as planetary health, is indispensable.

Abstract: We are currently on a long journey, perhaps 100 years away, towards the realization of a society in harmony with the environment while allowing us to live meaningful lives. However, the biological environment is subject to change due to human activities, and examples show that this can also change the properties of pathogenic microorganisms. In just a few decades, bacteria have been developed that can live on plastics such as nylon as a source of nutrition. In order to resist against the antibiotics invented by humans, some pathogenic microorganisms have become more or less virulent and have changed significantly in their properties. The concept of environmental harmony is something that humans should prepare for the good of both worlds while respecting the laws of the biological world. Rather than formulating it analytically and strictly, we need science and technology that can dynamically grasp the interactions using digital twin methods and provide appropriate guidance to both sides.

Abstract: Environmental symbiosis is interpreted as a “system of actions and conditions that sustainably maintain the blessings of nature” (process). In contrast, well-being is regarded as the “state of individuals that results from such a process” (outcome). Based on this causal framework, the paper explores future directions for well-being research. In particular, it emphasizes the need for integrative analyses that connect environmental dimensions—such as climate change, resource circulation, and harmony with nature—with human dimensions, including physical, mental, and social well-being. To enable such analyses, the study argues for developing an integrated indicator framework, constructing predictive and evaluative models for well-being, and establishing institutional systems for model validation and policy feedback.

Abstract: This paper analyzes the emerging policy trends regarding well-being and environmental symbiosis in Japan, a topic that has gained significant traction since the 2020s. Drawing on key government documents—such as the Cabinet Office's "Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform" and the Sixth Basic Environmental Plan—as well as expert discourse and meeting materials from relevant ministries, this study identifies the core concepts and policy directions. Furthermore, the paper argues that well-being is poised to co-evolve with the SDGs, offering new philosophical and conceptual frameworks to advance sustainability goals beyond 2030