To promote the interdisciplinary integration of ecology, environmental science, public health, toxicology, and to explore the ecological impacts and health effects of environmental pollution, the second Eco-Environment & Health International Academic Conference was successfully held at the University of Hong Kong from June 16 to 20, 2024. The conference was jointly organized by the journal "Eco-Environment & Health," the University of Hong Kong, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIES), and Nanjing University.

The conference chair, Professor Zhang Tong from the University of Hong Kong, Director Liu Guocai from our institute, and Director Gu Cheng from the Internationalization Office of Nanjing University, attended and delivered speeches at the conference. Academician Jiang Guibin, the editor-in-chief of EEH, Secretary Luan Tiangan from Wuyi University, Secretary Liu Jianping from the School of Environment at Nanjing University, the person in charge of the Science and Technology Office of our institute, EEH editorial staff, and representatives of young scholars from the institute also participated in the conference.

Director Liu Guocai congratulated the conference on its convening, welcomed experts and scholars from home and abroad, and expressed gratitude for the support from all parties for the development of the EEH journal. He pointed out that since its inception, EEH has played a significant role in promoting cooperation in various fields such as ecology and environmental science, achieving remarkable progress. It was highly praised at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), won awards in the field of popular science, and ranked in the top 10% of global environmental science and ecology journals in the CiteScore 2023, highlighting the journal's influence and academic contribution. He hopes that through the joint efforts of all parties, more and greater contributions will continue to be made to the construction of a global community of health for mankind.

More than 200 experts and scholars from China, Australia, Croatia, the United States, Italy, and other countries participated in the conference. Academician Jiang Guibin, the editor-in-chief of EEH, Professor Nanthi Bolan from the University of Western Australia, Professor Cai Zongwei from Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor Guo Jianhua, the deputy editor-in-chief of EEH from the University of Queensland, Professor Göran Klobučar from the University of Zagreb, and 11 other experts gave keynote speeches. The conference set up 11 sub-forums on topics such as global change and biodiversity, the environmental and ecological effects of new pollutants, environmental pollution and human health, environmental risk assessment and remediation, and environmental factors of antimicrobial resistance in the context of big health, with 109 people giving sub-forum reports. Experts and scholars from home and abroad gathered together to discuss global environmental and health issues.

The conference awarded certificates of honor to the best papers of EEH for 2023, outstanding editorial board members, outstanding young editorial board members, outstanding reviewers, best posters, and best graduate student reports.

During the conference, the EEH held an international editorial board meeting, where lively discussions were held on topics such as promotion mechanisms, journal internationalization, manuscript review, open access, and sustainable development. Ms. He Bingjin, the publisher from Elsevier, made suggestions for the development of the journal.

This conference was another international academic event for the EEH journal, providing a platform that is open and inclusive for global scholars to share research results, inspire creativity, and innovative thinking. It promoted academic exchanges across regions and cultures and facilitated communication and cooperation between domestic and international experts and scholars in the field of ecology, environment, and health.