Perspective: a healthy planet for healthy people. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ekins, Paul; Gupta, Joyeeta
• Is Part Of: Global sustainability. Volume 2(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: governance, -- policies, -- politics; Sustainability -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 304.2
• DOI: 10.1017/sus.2019.17
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-4798

Abstract

Non-technical abstract: This perspective article from the co-chairs of the United Nations Environment Programme's Sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) uses the assessment of the literature in the GEO-6 to show how a healthy planet and healthy people are linked together. It argues that the health of the planet is deteriorating and that this deteriorating ecosystem health has major direct and indirect impacts on human health and well-being. Direct impacts include the impacts of polluted air on the lungs of people, while indirect impacts include the impacts of land degradation on food security. Therefore, protecting the environment will also have major benefits for human health and well-being. Technical abstract: As the cumulative impacts of human behaviour negatively influence our ecosystems, human health and well-being are affected. This integrative perspective article argues that a healthy planet and healthy people are mutually supportive. It is based on a state-of-the-art review of the literature on ecosystems, policy approaches and outlooks for the future that has been integrated within the United Nations Environment Programme's Sixth Global Environmental Outlook. This paper argues that a healthy planet provides a range of contributions that are critical for enhancing the lives and livelihoods of people; it provides evidence of the growing ill health of the planet and what that does to human health and well-being; it explores the causes of an unhealthy planet; and it identifies the possible ways in which these causes can be addressed to support healthy people. However, it recognizes that although there are strong social and economic arguments to support the promotion of a healthy planet, change will not happen without strong political will to address the lack of public awareness of the environment's contribution to human health, social inertia and the power of vested interests.