At the One Health Summit in Lyon, Friendship Founder Runa Khan, representing civil society and serving as Honorary Chair of the One Sustainable Health Forum, reminded us that the connection between people, nature, and health is not theoretical. It is immediate, urgent, and deeply human. In communities where climate change reshapes land, water, and livelihoods, health systems must adapt not in isolation, but together. Because true resilience is built when we see the whole picture. A message from the frontlines, where health is not a sector, but a lived reality.

Human, animal, and environmental health are deeply intertwined. The One Health framework offers a holistic approach to address multiple crises at once, from biodiversity loss to health challenges driven by environmental harm. This session invites us to rethink our relationship with the environment through the lens of health and to embrace a way of living where our well-being is conceived in harmony with the planet’s health.

About the speaker(s): Runa Khan , Founder & Executive Director, Friendship Moderated by: Inés Yábar – United Nations Youth Office

Friendship is the Winner of The Earthshot Prize to Fix Our Climate 2025 for their work in Bangladesh, one of the most climate vulnerable countries on Earth. The NGO ensures local communities prepare for extreme weather and supports their health, wealth and education. Already offering solutions like floating hospitals and schools that can be packed down ahead of a natural disaster, Friendship will use the £1 million awarded to them tonight to deploy solutions that are locally owned, ecologically sustainable, and replicable across the globe. #EarthshotRio

— The Earthshot Prize, founded by HRH Prince William in 2020, is the world’s most prestigious and impactful environmental award. Our mission is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. Each year, we identify, celebrate and back groundbreaking climate leaders across five Earthshots: Clean Our Air, Fix Our Climate, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Protect and Restore Nature – awarding £1M to five Winners and connecting all 15 Finalists to a global network of funders, businesses, and communities. Subscribe to our channel to see how together, we can repair our planet.

Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable countries on Earth, where recurring climate-induced disasters take lives and are a threat to millions. Friendship is working to turn this story around. Its holistic approach offers a raft of solutions to help people not only prepare for extreme weather, but also support their health, wealth and education. Some of their brilliant solutions:

• Mangrove restoration that works to reduce erosion, protect against cyclones and store carbon
• Floating hospitals that offer medical care to island residents
• Schools that can pack down ahead of natural disasters

It’s a pioneering organisation with extraordinary reach and impact. More than 7.5 million people benefit annually from their healthcare services, 8.3 million days’ worth of emergency support have been delivered, and over 80,000 people now have access to safe drinking water in coastal areas.