PLANETARY HEALTH WEEKLY

Climate change, environmental degradation, and pollution are more than just global problems; they are public health crises affecting billions. They form a constellation of cosmic proportions. The prognosis for a smooth future gets worse every day, with 100 million tons of CO2 added to the already full-up Atmosphere, along with the other greenhouse gases. As the global atmospheric temperature rises, year after year, local weather patterns get disrupted, causing extreme temperatures and ecosystem shifts in many directions, life ice melt, ocean heating, coral destruction, floods, droughts, etc.

The conditions for human well-being are eroding along with those with whom we share the planet. When we discuss climate change, sustainability, or public health, we often treat them as separate issues. But in reality, they’re deeply connected, and part of a longer system that we now call planetary health. The idea is simple: the health and sustainability of our planet is directly proportional to the health and sustainability of its inhabitants.

The foundations of our health and sustainability are being affected by rising global temperatures, wildfires, air and water pollution, deforestation, habitat destruction, and change. As a result, the consequences of this ecological imbalance are showing up in hospitals and homes around the world. This growing crisis has prompted scientists, healthcare professionals, and environmental experts to work together like never before.

Through interdisciplinary science and a sustainability-focused approach, researchers are uncovering the complex ways our environment shapes human health. We must mitigate (i.e., stop the source, burning fossil fuels) and adapt (make changes to life and policy to deal with the burgeoning consequences).

Climate and Human Health: The Invisible Connection

We often hear about climate change melting glaciers or messing with wildlife, but guess what? It’s also quietly creeping into our bodies and brains. That’s right, there’s a real, invisible link between climate and human health, and it’s getting harder to ignore or minimize. Let’s talk a bit about heatwaves, what they are, and how they impact. They’re not just breaking temperature records; they’re breaking our sweat glands, too.

Across the world, these heatwaves are responsible for heat-related illness and deaths, which are joining in for the ride. Especially for older adults, young adults, and folks working outdoors – they’re on the front lines. Climate change is impacting our mental health, too. Have you heard of “climate anxiety”? Yes, it’s real. Because more and more young people are feeling stressed, scared, and uncertain about the future, honestly.

Human Health in a Changing Climate

Let’s talk more about what this climate crisis means for our health, because the climate crisis is also a health crisis. What are the direct effects? Heat-related illnesses are rising. Heatwaves are now longer and more frequent, putting older adults, young children, and outdoor workers at risk. Respiratory problems spike when wildfire smoke or smog worsens air quality, this adding to the huge number of deaths caused by all the many other sources polluting our air. Children in urban areas often experience more asthma attacks, and learning is negatively affected in schools without air conditioning.

Waterborne diseases spread faster after floods or hurricanes disrupt clean water systems, including in low-lying islands which are flooding from ocean rise. And the indirect toll? Many are experiencing climate anxiety, especially young people, facing a very uncertain future. Watching environmental change and disasters unfold can lead to stress, depression, and a sense of helplessness. Displacement from disaster also takes a mental health toll, disrupting families and communities. Hundreds of millions of people around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes, and droughts.

Sustainability: The Missing Link

So, where does sustainability fit into all of this? At its core, sustainability is about meeting today’s needs without sacrificing tomorrow’s. That includes:

• Personal choices(like what to eat, if you use plastic, saving energy, or how you travel, and what you advocate).
• Environmental actions (like reducing waste, protecting green spaces, and halting rainforest destruction).
• Economic shifts (like supporting clean energy jobs, incentivizing development and use of green energy, taxing fossil fuels, and not subsidizing them; keeping fossil fuels in the ground).

Living sustainably does more than help the planet remain stable or, as it truly is today, not get further unstable; it also protects your health. Cleaner air, safer water, conserved forests, green spaces, and walkable communities reduce disease risk and boost well-being.

Here’s what that can look like:

• Circular economies that reuse resources instead of tossing them.
• Green infrastructure, like parks and bike lanes that improves air quality and encourages movement or solar and windmill installations.
• Low-carbon lifestyles that lower emissions and your medical bills.

The Science Behind the Interconnection

There’s a growing field of research that connects the dots: planetary health. This concept recognizes that the health of people and that of all our co-habitants and the planet are deeply interwined. Scientists across disciplines, from public health, medicine, ecology, engineering, and social sciences etc. We are now studying how:

• Deforestation increases the risk of disease outbreaks.
• Climate change disrupts food systems and nutrition.
• Air pollution contributes to heart and lung disease.

According to a recent report by The Lancet Planetary Health, improving environmental conditions could prevent up to 25% of global deaths. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also link climate action, health equity, and sustainable development into one shared vision.

Change starts with a small step, and it starts with you. Let’s take a look at some best doable actions:

1. Cut your Carbon Footprint: Walk, bike, or carpool. Swap red meat for plant-based meals a few days a week. Switch to energy-efficient appliances and a battery electric vehicle.
2. Go local and sustainable: Support farmers’ markets, reduce single-use plastics, or join a community composting program or advocacy group.
3. Get Involved: Advocate for reducing and eliminating fossil fuel use, clean air laws, and more green urban spaces. Support green policies in your town. Encourage your school or workplace to adopt eco-friendly practices.

The Bottom Line

Let’s take a step back for a moment. Imagine the story of your life being written alongside the story of our planet. Every choice you make, what you eat for dinner, how you commute to work, the products you buy, or how you use your spare time, can add a positive line to that shared story. And, while you may not see the ripple effect right away, each decision holds the power to shape a healthier you and a healthier Earth. And you can use the power of your vote.

The truth is, your health and the planet’s health are deeply connected.

They breathe together, thrive together, and suffer together. But here’s the part we often forget: you don’t need to do everything perfectly. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to start with awareness, with intention, and with small steps (that add up over time). Whether it’s choosing a reuseable water bottle, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, joining a civic action, or simply staying curious about how climate affects health, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.