The Emerging Concept of Planetary Health: Connecting People, Place, Purpose and Planet

Dear Colleagues,

The emerging concept of planetary health emphasizes that human health is intricately connected to the health of natural systems within the Earth’s biosphere—and that the health of all species depends on the health, biodiversity and stability of whole systems. Planetary health is a product of human social, political and economic ‘ecosystems’.

The global challenges facing humanity include climate change, biodiversity losses, population growth, grotesque socioeconomic inequalties, environmental degradation, health disparities, the dominance of ultra-processed foods, and the pandemic crisis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In addition, there is ongoing political polarization and conflict, and growing ‘dis-ease’ which compromises quality of life and sets individuals on a path to NCDs. These concerns are all interrelated; health at all levels—person, place and planet—is interdependent.

This Special Issue focuses on understanding and improving the complex relationships between human health and planetary health, including how the eco-biological interactions in our living environments (including food systems, climate change and biodiversity and microbial ecology) impact well-being, together with the wider societal factors that govern these. They require a greater understanding of our psychological relationships with the Earth and its natural systems. Lack of experience in nature and emotional disconnection from the natural environment, especially in children, may undermine the goals of planetary health.

The dramatic increasing burden of human disease can be seen as the culmination of a ‘dual burden’—increasing adverse exposures (e.g. fast food, toxins and stress) coupled with loss of much that was protective in ancestral environments. The facets of ‘loss’ extend from the physical (loss of biodiversity, species, local foods and produce) to the loss of community (loss of language, tradition, and stories) and the far less tangible aspects of loss (such as loss of value systems, loss of purpose, peace, respect, spirituality, compassion, hope and optimism). This suggests that the solutions must lie in restoring protective and buffering factors, minimizing adversity and inequality, and addressing the underlying systemic causes.

We invite submissions that consider aspects of these complex systems as they pertain to the broader context of planetary health, including unique perspectives, potential solutions, new proposals for collaboration, strategies for advocacy, public education, policy proposals, models for systemic change, community case studies, novel application or integration of technologies.

Prof. Dr. Susan Prescott
Dr. Alan C. Logan
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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