Gabrysch, Sabine

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Journal of Health Monitoring 2022 7(S4)Journal of Health Monitoring ABSTRACT7A planetary health perspective on the climate crisisA planetary health perspective on the climate crisisPlanetary Health is about the health of humans and other living beings, of populations and ecosystems, and of the whole living planet Earth, appreciating the deep connect-edness of all life. A planetary doctor examining the Earth would find three core symptoms: 1.) the climate heating up, 2.) pollution of air, water and land and 3.) a massive loss of biodiversity. The causative agents are humans who have multiplied their population size and resource use over a short time.Human living conditions have improved substantially in many parts of the world over the last decades, and so has human health. However, the poorest have been left behind and modern lifestyles have led to new health prob-lems: Too much and unhealthy food, too little exercise and air pollution are causing a sharp rise in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease worldwide. In addition, there are new health risks due to human interventions in nature [1]: Climate change is intensifying weather extremes with deadly heat waves and floods. Droughts cause harvest fail-ures and famines. The destruction of natural habitats makes pandemics more likely. The diagnosis is serious: This is a planetary emergency. We are transgressing several planetary boundaries and get-ting close to dangerous tipping points in the Earth system. Humanity is destroying living conditions on the planet, risking its habitability and the survival of our civilisation. It is also a justice issue: The rich are causing the problem and the poor and future generations bear the brunt.In an emergency one has to act fast and courageously. How can we achieve a radical reshaping of our whole way of living, our way of doing business, a Great Transforma-tion of society at record pace? An unprecedented challenge. It will require major shifts in our worldview, our rela-tionship to nature, our values [2]. We need to realise that we humans are one component of a highly complex web of life, one part of our living planet, and that we totally depend on it. Our health, our society, our economy all depend on functioning ecosystems, on a stable climate. We need to regain a wisdom many indigenous peoples have preserved over generations. The good news is that tackling this challenge could be a huge global health opportunity. Plenty of solutions are syn-ergistic: good for the planet and good for our health. A win-win situation! For example, to stop burning fossil fuels can avoid millions of deaths from air pollution. Making cities easy to walk and bike helps people exercise more. And eat-ing less meat and more vegetables would be a huge win for climate, biodiversity, animal and human health. The fundamental societal change that we need will not happen by itself or from above. It requires many active peo-ple pushing for it. Jointly, we can change the structures that are hurting people and nature. We can create a positive vision for a better, healthier, sustainable world which already exists in niches.As health professionals, we have a particular responsi-bility to protect health, and also a high credibility. We can play an important role in the public debate on the plane-tary crisis [3], by warning of the risks, but also pointing to the long-term and short-term health gains. Journal of Health Monitoring · 2022  7(S4) DOI 10.25646/10389Robert Koch Institute, Berlin Sabine GabryschPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Research Department Climate Resilience Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Public HealthThis abstract was presented at the  Robert Koch Colloquium 2022 and has not been peer reviewed.Submitted: 08.08.2022 Accepted: 08.08.2022 Published: 31.08.2022Journal of Health Monitoring 2022 7(S4)Journal of Health Monitoring ABSTRACT8A planetary health perspective on the climate crisisCorresponding authorProf Dr Dr med Sabine GabryschPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchPO Box 60120314412 Potsdam, GermanyE-mail: sabine.gabrysch@pik-potsdam.dePlease cite this publication asGabrysch S (2022) A planetary health perspective on the climate crisis. J Health Monit 7(S4): 7–9. DOI 10.25646/10389The presentation summarised in this abstract was given vir-tually by Prof Dr Dr med Sabine Gabrysch on May 04, 2022, as part of the Robert Koch Colloquium 2022 at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. A recording is available at https://youtu.be/nZSmtGuT5ww.The German version of the article is available at: www.rki.de/journalhealthmonitoringConflicts of interestThe author declares that there is no conflict of interest.References1. Whitmee S, Haines A, Beyrer C et al. (2015) Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: Report of The Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on planetary health. Lancet 386(10007):1973–20282. Gabrysch S (2018) Imagination challenges in planetary health: Re-conceptualising the human-environment relationship. Lancet Planet Health 2(9):e372–e3733. Horton R, Beaglehole R, Bonita R et al. (2014) From public  to planetary health: a manifesto. Lancet 383(9920):847Journal of Health Monitoring 2022 7(S4)Journal of Health Monitoring ABSTRACT9A planetary health perspective on the climate crisisThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.The Robert Koch Institute is a Federal Institute within  the portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of HealthImprint Journal of Health Monitoringwww.rki.de/journalhealthmonitoring-enPublisherRobert Koch InstituteNordufer 20 13353 Berlin, GermanyEditorial OfficeDepartment of Epidemiology and Health MonitoringUnit: Health ReportingGeneral-Pape-Str. 62–6612101 Berlin, GermanyPhone: +49 (0)30-18 754-3400E-mail: healthmonitoring@rki.deEditor-in-ChiefDr Thomas Ziese, Deputy: Dr Anke-Christine SaßEditorsDr Martina Groth, Johanna Gutsche, Dr Birte Hintzpeter, Dr Kirsten Kelleher, Dr Franziska Prütz, Dr Alexander Rommel,  Dr Livia Ryl, Dr Anke-Christine Saß, Stefanie Seeling, Simone StimmTypesettingKatharina Behrendt, Alexander Krönke, Kerstin MöllerkeISSN 2511-2708NoteExternal contributions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the  Robert Koch Institute.

A planetary health perspective on the climate crisis

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A planetary health perspective on the climate crisis

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