What is Planetary Health and What can we do to Improve it?

The astonishing level humans have transformed the natural environment, especially over the past 170 years since industrialization, has inspired a new name for our current geological epoch: the Anthropocene. The word comes from the Greek etymological root “anthrop,” which means “human.” But how are we supposed to keep track and understand how these changes impact us?

To understand the relationship between human health and the environment better, scientists have developed the field of planetary health. It offers important key indicators for tracking the relationship between humans and the planet.

Planetary health offers a way to understand the relationship between human health and environmental sustainability. According to “Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch,” a report prepared by the Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on planetary health in 2015, “humanity has become a primary determinant of Earth’s biophysical conditions,” due to its overwhelming environmental footprint. At the same time, we’re experiencing the highest levels of overall life expectancy and health ever.

Yet, the Rockefeller-Lancet Commission recognizes that the high overall human health level we experience today has come at the expense of the planet. And our current level of health doesn’t adequately represent the ability for future generations, especially in poor parts of the world, to live healthy lives.

Scientists and policy makers are concerned that we are degrading the environmental life supports we rely on for human health at a rate that puts large populations at risk, especially in poor parts of the world. By analyzing planetary health, the Commission aims to:

• predict future outcomes for human health based on human population and environmental trends,
• Identify key challenges and
• propose solutions.

The key takeaways are that we need to empathize with the planet, conceptualize a value system that keeps growth in balance with the environment, adequately research the planet’s warning signs and take timely action.  

The Rockefeller-Lancet Commission tracks include the following metrics to define the state of planetary health: Population growth, Poverty, Life expectancy, Energy use, Water use, Domesticated land, Fertiliser use, Marine fish capture, Tropical forest loss, Water shortage, Ocean acidification, Carbon dioxide emissions, Temperature change and Biodiversity loss.  

While population growth, poverty and life expectancy have all improved greatly on a global scale, the remaining factors show alarming amplification that has put enormous stress on the planet. This planetary health infographic gives an excellent visual summary.

These factors help us to define and analyze the planetary boundaries or limits at which serious risks to sustainability unfold. According to the report, the highest risks were seen in the loss of genetic diversity (biodiversity loss), and the level of nitrogen flows (fertiliser use).

• Population growth
• Each year the UN Population Fund reports global population information.
• The United States Census Bureau also tracks real time population growth with its Global Population Clock.
• Poverty
• The World Poverty Clock compiles data from the UN, the Worldbank and the International Monetary Fund to show global poverty data and information for each country.
• Life expectancy
• The Global Health Observatory (GHO) data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) provides yearly life expectancy information.
• Energy use
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) provides global energy data by source and country related to supply, consumption, price, emissions and other factors.
• The Worldbank reports energy use per capita by source.
• Water use
• See the UN World Water Development Report 2019: Leaving No One Behind for the most up-to-date information on water use.  
• Domesticated (agricultural) land
• The Worldbank provides line graphs on land use topics including agricultural land compared to the overall available land.
• Fertiliser use
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) publishes annual summary reports on trends and data for fertilizer data.
• The Worldbank provides visual data on fertilizer use.
• Marine fish capture

• The Worldbank provides visual data on global fishing.

• Tropical forest loss
• The Global Forest Watch provides a helpful dashboard on forest cover information for checking up on global deforestation.
• Water shortage

• The Worldbank provides visual data on freshwater use.

• Ocean acidification
• The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) has an online data portal.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) provides Ocean Acidification information on its website.
• Carbon dioxide emissions
• The Global Carbon Project visualizes carbon dioxide emissions by country.
• The IEA also provides carbon dioxide emissions data.
• Global temperature change
• The International Panel on Climate Change released its Special Summary Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius this year.
• The NASA Earth Observatory collects data on global temperature change.
• Biodiversity loss
• The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a significant report on biodiversity this year.
• The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports global biodiversity data in its Living Planet Index.

Following up to the Rockefeller-Lancet Commission, a new commission was formed to focus on ways individuals could have the biggest impact on improving their environmental footprint in a way that promotes human health.

It turns out that our diet connects us more than any other factor to the earth. As a result, the EAT-Lancet Commission developed the Planetary Health Diet. Among the dishes, you’ll find a variety of local, nutritious vegetables and grains you may have never seen before. This is because the diet addresses factors like biodiversity and nutrition at once.

The diet mostly focuses on the threats to the environment posed by agriculture and livestock. Our food system alone intensifies climate change, over-fertilizes the water streams with nitrates from biowaste and agricultural runoff and leads to rainforest deforestation and wildlife losses. However, the diet does not entirely restrict meat and dairy like the vegan diet. Instead, it adjusts proportions in balance with the growing population.

Nevertheless, the message is clear: our diets and food systems are crucial factors in sustainability. Explore the food varieties and proportions of the diet in this Planetary Health Weekly Menu.

You can start by reducing your meat intake, lowering your consumption of water, extending the lifespan (number of uses) of your products, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy and limiting your air travel. Try to stay motivated by forming your own community or friend group focused on sustainability. Together, you can buy supplies in bulk, share rides and appliances, set goals, measure your progress, share ideas and hold each other accountable.

How do you improve planetary health in your everyday life? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Carrington, D. (2018, October 10). Huge reduction in meat-eating ‘essential’ to avoid climate breakdown. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/10/huge-reduction-in-meat-eating-essential-to-avoid-climate-breakdown.

Carrington, D. (2019, January 19). New plant-focused diet would ‘transform’ planet’s future, say scientists. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/16/new-plant-focused-diet-would-transform-planets-future-say-scientists.

EAT-Lancet Commission. (2019). Food Planet Health: Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems. Retrieved from https://eatforum.org/content/uploads/2019/01/EAT-Lancet_Commission_Summary_Report.pdf.

The Lancet. (2019). Planetary Health. [Infographic}. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/infographics/planetary-health.

The Rockefeller-Lancet Commission. (2015, November 14). Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: report of The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on planetary health. The Lancet, 386, 1973-2028. Retrieved from https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/report/safeguarding-human-health-anthropocene-epoch/