We live in unprecedented times - the Anthropocene - defined by far-reaching human impacts on the natural systems that underpin civilisation. Planetary Health explores the many environmental changes that threaten to undermine progress in human health, and explains how these changes affect health outcomes, from pandemics to infectious diseases to mental health, from chronic diseases to injuries. It shows how people can adapt to those changes that are now unavoidable, through actions that both improve health and safeguard the environment. But humanity must do more than just adapt: we need transformative changes across many sectors - energy, housing, transport, food, and health care. The book discusses specific policies, technologies, and interventions to achieve the change required, and explains how these can be implemented. It presents the evidence, builds hope in our common future, and aims to motivate action by everyone, from the general public to policymakers to health practitioners.
Author(s): Andy Haines; Howard Frumkin
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 455
City: Cambridge
Cover
Half-title
Reviews
Title page
Copyright information
Contents
Preface
References
Acknowledgements
1 Our Changing Planet
The Long Arc of Human History
Human Thriving in the Great Acceleration
A Changing Planet
Planetary Boundaries
Inequities in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Footprints
Globalization, Development, and Changing Environmental Footprints
The Roots of the Anthropocene
The Path Forward
References
2 Climate Change
The Foundations of Knowledge about Climate and Health
Historical Perspective
The El Niño Southern Oscillation
Contemporary Health Studies
Modelling and Forecasting
But Was Climate Change the Cause?
The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health and Well-Being
Heat
Extreme Weather
Infectious Diseases
Threats to the Food Supply
Effects on Poverty, Migration, and Conflict
Grief and Other Mental Health Effects
Conclusions
References
3 Pollution, Land Use, Biodiversity, and Health
Pollution: A Multidimensional Challenge
The Global Burden of Pollution
Air Pollution
What Is Air Pollution?
How Are People Exposed to Air Pollution?
How Does Air Pollution Affect Health?
What Is the Health Burden of Air Pollution?
Air Pollution Trends
Microbial Contamination of Water
Chemical Pollution
Persistent Organic Pollutants and Endocrine Disruption
Plastics
Pharmaceutical Pollution
Pesticides
Exposure to Lead and Other Metals
Waste Dumping
Land Use Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Disease Risk
Land Use
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Freshwater Resources
Multiple Drivers of Disease Risk
Conclusions
References
4 Assessing Vulnerability and Risk in the Anthropocene Epoch
Climate Risk Assessments
ND-GAIN
The Climate Vulnerability Monitor
Assessing Future Risk and Vulnerability
National Risk Assessments
Local Vulnerability and Risks
The Influence of Social and Demographic Factors on Risk
The Paradox of Intensifying Environmental Changes and Improving Health
Assessing the Adaptation Gap
References
5 Adaptation and Resilience to Planetary Change
Adaptation and Resilience: Companion Concepts
Adaptation
Resilience
Adaptation and Resilience in Practice: Five Examples
Nature-Based Adaptation
Progress in Adaptation and Resilience
Trade-offs and Limits to Adaptation
Financing Adaptation
Conclusions
References
6 Addressing Conceptual, Knowledge, and Implementation Challenges
Conceptual Challenges
Perpetual Economic Growth?
Consumption: To What End?
Measures of Economic Growth as Measures of Human Progress
Economics for People: The Better Life Index
Happiness: The World Happiness Report
Comprehensive Assessment of Human Well-Being: The Social Progress Index
Parsimonious Measures of Well-Being: The Human Development Index
Incorporating Inequality and Ecological Footprint: The Happy Planet Index
Recap: Measuring Human Progress
Tackling Externalities
Global Health, Planetary Health, and Other Concepts
Ecosystem Services, Natural Capital, and Sustainable Prosperity
Knowledge Challenges
Transcending Disciplinary Boundaries
Synthesizing Evidence
Research Needs
Systems Thinking
Resources to Support Research
Diverse Forms of Knowledge
Implementation Challenges
Confronting Disinformation
Implementation Research
Closing the 'Know-Do Gap'
Conclusions
References
7 Health in the Sustainable Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals
Health in the SDGs
Challenges in Monitoring Progress
Opportunities for Multiple Benefits across the SDGs
Financing the SDGs
The Limitations of the SDGs
The Way Forward
References
8 Transforming Energy and Industry: Towards a Net-Zero Circular Economy for Health
The Challenge of Decarbonization
Carbon Budgets
The Current Status of Decarbonization
Economic and Social Policies to Support Decarbonization
Reducing Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Putting a Price on Carbon
The Economics of Decarbonization
Strategies for Keeping within 2C above Pre-Industrial Levels
Technical Approaches to Decarbonizing the Economy
Currently Feasible Approaches
Outstanding Technical Challenges
Deep Decarbonization Pathways
Health Benefits of Decarbonization
Health Benefits of Reducing Fossil Fuel Use
Health Benefits of Renewable Energy
Household Energy
Reducing Consumption
The Circular Economy
Tracking Progress Towards Decarbonization and the Circular Economy
Conclusions
References
9 Sustaining Urban Health in the Anthropocene Epoch
A City's Carbon Emissions: Territorial or Consumption-Based?
Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Cities
Transforming Cities for Health and Sustainability
Data Revolution
Energy
Transport
Housing
Tackling Consumption-Based Emissions
Water and Sanitation
Green Space
Conclusions
References
10 Food Systems and Land Use
The State of the World's Food Systems
Food Systems and Nutrition
Environmental Impacts of Food Systems
Waste and Inefficiency
Potential Solutions
Sustainable Healthy Diets
The EAT-Lancet Commission
Food-Based Dietary Guidelines
Promoting Behaviour Change Towards Healthy, Sustainable Diets
Improved Agricultural Technologies and Practices
Land Area Required to Protect Biodiversity
Land Management Options for GHG Removal
Reclaiming Land from Tobacco Farming
Water Management
Sustainable Intensification
Agroforestry
Optimizing Fertilizer Use
Methane Management
Safer Use of Pesticides
Genetic Strategies to Increase Crop Yield
Wild Foods and Indigenous Crop Varieties
Promoting Healthy, Sustainable Crops
Novel Foods
Aquatic Food Products
Reducing Food Loss and Waste
Redefining Metrics of Food and Agricultural Progress
Taxes and Subsidies: Getting the Prices Right and Advancing Equity
Conclusion: A Menu of Potential Solutions
References
11 The Role of Health Professionals in Fostering Planetary Health
Reducing the Burden of Preventable Ill-Health
Primary Health Care, Prevention, and the Environment
The Environmental Footprint of Health Care
Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Health Care
Addressing Population Growth
Health Professional Leadership in the Anthropocene
Conclusion: Health and Population in the Anthropocene
References
12 Sustaining Planetary Health in the Anthropocene
Overcoming Conceptual and Empathy Failures
The Earth Charter
The Sustainable Development Goals
The Canmore Principles
Planetary Health Ethics
Conceptual and Empathy Failures in Economics: Beyond Neoliberalism
Natural Capital as an Economic Fundamental
Doughnut Economics
Thriving with Less
Overcoming Knowledge Failures
Overcoming Implementation Failures
Managing the Commons
Ending Harmful Subsidies
Carbon Pricing
Other Approaches to Internalizing the Risk of Fossil Fuels
Universal Basic Income
Fighting Corruption and Tax Evasion
Transparency
Regulation
Litigation
Technologies for a Healthy Anthropocene
Transition Towns
Green Deal and Green New Deal
The Club of Rome Planetary Emergency Plan
Coda: The World after COVID-19
Conclusions
References
Index
