Planetary Health
Safeguarding Human Health and the Environment in the Anthropocene

Human health is facing unprecedented threats from global environmental change. This book describes the challenges and opportunities to safeguard health.

Andy Haines (Author), Howard Frumkin (Author)

9781108729260, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 July 2021

454 pages
24.4 x 17 x 2.1 cm, 0.88 kg

'Focusing on potential solutions, the authors emphasize the integration of knowledge from different disciplinary and geographic perspectives to advance understanding. They cite at least 1,618 timely and scholarly sources, and dozens of tables, charts, and graphs enhance the text. Helpful chapter conclusions and the detailed index make this an excellent teaching tool … Essential. ' A. S. Ricker, Choice Connect

We live in unprecedented times - the Anthropocene - defined by far-reaching human impacts on the natural systems that underpin civilisation. Planetary Health explores the many environmental changes that threaten to undermine progress in human health, and explains how these changes affect health outcomes, from pandemics to infectious diseases to mental health, from chronic diseases to injuries. It shows how people can adapt to those changes that are now unavoidable, through actions that both improve health and safeguard the environment. But humanity must do more than just adapt: we need transformative changes across many sectors - energy, housing, transport, food, and health care. The book discusses specific policies, technologies, and interventions to achieve the change required, and explains how these can be implemented. It presents the evidence, builds hope in our common future, and aims to motivate action by everyone, from the general public to policymakers to health practitioners.

1. Our Changing Planet
2. Climate Change
3. Pollution, Land Use, Biodiversity, and Health
4. Assessing Vulnerability and Risk in the Anthropocene Epoch
5. Adaptation and Resilience to Planetary Change
6. Addressing Conceptual, Knowledge and Implementation Challenges
7. Health in the Sustainable Development Goals
8. Transforming Energy and Industry: Toward a Net-zero Circular Economy for Health
9. Sustaining Urban Health in the Anthropocene Epoch
10. Food Systems and Land Use
11. The Role of Health Professionals in Fostering Planetary Health
12. Sustaining Planetary Health in the Anthropocene
Index.

Subject Areas: Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Climate change [RNPG], Pollution & threats to the environment [RNP], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF], Environmental medicine [MMR], Public health & preventive medicine [MBN], International environmental law [LBBP]