The first to suffer the effects of environmental disruptions such as climate change are people who live amid weak social infrastructures and depleted ecosystems. In recent years, it would not be an exaggeration to say that not a single day passes without the words "global warming" or "climate change" being mentioned in the mass media. The G8 Environment Ministers meeting was held in Kobe, further raising awareness of the importance of environmental issues. At the subsequent G8 Toyako Summit in Hokkaido, environmental issues were high on the agenda, signalling the beginning of the quest for a low-carbon society.

The fourth report of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), stated that "the warming of the climate system is unequivocal". Therefore, while stabilisation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide is the first step, a multifaceted approach is necessary to ensure future reductions. Similarly, to minimise the unavoidable impact of climate change, adaptation policies are essential at every level. For now, policies that need to be enforced immediately are indicated in the IGES White Paper, published by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

This symposium, under the theme of "Climate change and emerging risks to human health and well-being: response options and the role of public and private sectors", aimed for recognition of the direct threat to health posed by climate change and policy recommendations for social development measures that are climate-friendly. It was organised jointly by the IGES Kansai Research Centre, which deals with environmental problems under the theme of "Business and the environment", and the WHO Centre for Health Development,a leader in international health issues.