Planetary Health

Despite health gains over recent decades, there is growing evidence that the planet’s capacity to sustain the growing human population is declining. Climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater depletion, overexploitation of fisheries and air, water and soil pollution threaten to halt and reverse these advances in health. The concept of “Planetary health” recognises the interdependencies of human and natural systems, and that the integrity of natural systems is an essential precondition for human health, survival, and prosperity.

This session will discuss the potential health implications of environmental changes for example through their effects on food and agriculture, emerging diseases, disasters and displacement of populations, exposure to pollution and increased poverty. The session will also debate potential policies that could promote environmental sustainability and safeguard health across a range of sectors such as energy, transport, urban planning, agriculture and food as well as health care. Finally it will discuss the challenges of implementing such policies and how these can be addressed with a particular emphasis on the role of health professionals in researching, educating and advocating for policies to sustain Planetary Health.