Prof essor Emeritus Dato’ Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, Scientific Advisor to Prime Minister of Malaysia presented a topic on ecosystems and human health. The scientific presentation acknowledged the close relationship between health, the environment, and development, as well as the need to improve health in order to achieve sustainable development. Poverty eradication and economic development cannot be achieved where there is a high prevalence of illnesses. The health of the population cannot be sustained without responsive health systems, a healthy environment, and an intact life-support system. Efforts to protect the health of the environment need to be closely linked to programmes to protect the health of people. Priority areas such as water, energy, health, agriculture, and biodiversity still remain as the greatest global challenges facing the world.