Welcome to the Planetary Health Initiative.
While “planetary health” seems to have become established as a topic of conversation across a broadening range of sectors, the essence of the subject matter often remains elusive. Succinctly, it addresses public health, the environment, and the Earth’s ecosystems in a comprehensive, holistic manner. However, because the relationship and interactions between these elements are often complex and context-dependent, it can be difficult to furnish a definitive, all-encompassing description of what planetary health is (beyond the ubiquitous – and indeed, to the point – Venn diagram). Rather than being articulated by a specific set of criteria or definition, planetary health is perhaps best understood through its approximations.
The purpose of the Planetary Health Initiative therefore is to capture that essence by elaborating on the numerous shades and nuances of the topic to create a kind of sketch or a study of the subject.
The Planetary Health Initiative is a new entity and this is a new site, however it is the departure point of several years of incubating ideas, research, and practice. As such, there will be few initial posts and topics will be contemporary though not necessarily current. From this foundation, the base of information will expand with the wider discussion. Highlighted material will generally focus on what is happening in the news, articles in academic journals, and releases from organizations. The Planetary Health Initiative seeks to engage people with interesting facets of planetary health and to demonstrate that it is more consequential and more far-reaching than discussions centered around global temperatures and carbon emissions (as important as these topics are – and certainly, they will figure into the discussion).
Beyond simply exchanging interesting ideas and research, fundamentally the Planetary Health Initiative strives to be a call to action. While there are issues and challenges that must be addressed at a national or international level where many people will have limited access or influence, there are many elements that may be addressed on a local or even personal level that can have a profound impact on the health of the environment, its biodiversity, and all of us. It is a resource for everyone, from gardener to governor.
Finally, growth occurs through challenge and competition. When positions become dogmatic, they cease to be scientific, and progress stops. Our understanding of the positions we hold develops and evolves as we are exposed to different perspectives and are compelled to defend or re-examine the assumptions upon which they are built. Thus, it is crucial to take a critical approach and to reflect on the implications of long-held positions, new information, and evolving interpretations of our experience. Whenever pertinent, the Planetary Health Initiative will seek to highlight new perspectives and unconventional positions.
With so many challenges ahead, the future is exciting – there are so many areas for us to improve upon and so much work to be done. Let’s get busy – join the discussion and follow the Planetary Health Initiative on this journey of discovery.
- Mark Anderson
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