Emerging Markets Symposium Lecture on Health and the Environment given by Jeffrey Sachs

Speaking to an audience of 300 people at the Emerging Markets Symposium on Health and the Environment Lecture in the Sheldonian Theatre, world-leading American economist who specialises in sustainable development, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, drew on President Kennedy’s announcement that he would take a man to the moon, and back, as a goal for his administration.

Professor Sachs said the world of environmental and public health had many successes to its name, but there was an increasing disconnect between public rhetoric and action discourse.

This meant that it now also needed to ‘moon shot’ - a bold goal with appropriate timelines and the accompanying determination and resources to succeed.

He concluded by highlighting the 17 UN sustainable development goals and said we have the framework, now we need to create the leadership and commitment to reverse the avoidable global health inequities within and between countries and destruction of our planet.

The following day, Professor Sachs was interviewed on the Today programme about his views on Donald Trump's economic goals. Listen to the interview here which occurs at 07:33