Global Change and Public Health: Addressing the Ecological Determinants of Health, Summary Report

Tuesday, 13th of October 2015

GLOBAL CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH: ADDRESSING THE ECOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

Full text is at http://www.cpha.ca/uploads/policy/edh-brief.pdf

Ten key messages

1. We live in a socio‐eco logical system that has two interacting components: A human‐created social system and a natural ecosystem consisting of all of Earths life support systems. 

2. Earths natural systems provide key ecosystem goods and services (e.g. oxygen, water, food, waste decomposition and recycling, climate stability) that are fundamental determinants of the health of humans and other species. We call these the ecological determinants of health. 

3. The combination of population growth, economic growth, rising expectations, over‐consumption and powerful technologies (our social system) is harming a number of key Earth systems, in some cases at or beyond critical levels. 

4. This human‐induced decline in the optimal functioning of key Earth systems, if it continues, will most probably result in social decline (and in some cases, collapse) at all levels, and in all regions of the Earth. It is the most important global threat to health that humanity has ever faced. 

5. The harmful health impacts of this decline will not be experienced equally. Disadvantaged people, communities and nations will experience more severe health impacts. However, over time and with greater global change, all peoples will be affected. 

6. In the face of this decline, and the resulting health impacts and health inequity, business as usual, never mind an acceleration of business as usual, is not an option. 

7. Fortunately, alternative, less harmful forms of social development and economic activity are in general both known and available. The transition to a sustainable, just and healthy future, while not easy, is possible – and necessary. 

8. Public healths role is to protect and promote health, prevent disease and injury and reduce inequalities in health. Encouraging and supporting the transition to a sustainable, just and healthy future is entirely consistent with this role. 

9. Specifically, public health practitioners and organizations can and must take the lead locally,  provincially, nationally and internationally in:   understanding and reporting on the health implications and impacts of our current  unsustainable forms of development;   undertaking research into the health implications of ecological change and the health  benefits of alternative approaches;   proposing healthier public policies and private and community sector actions that support  the transition; and   communicating effectively with key stakeholders (including the  rest of the health care  system and the general public) the importance of this issue, the health implications of our  present path and the health bene fits of the transition we require. 

10. To be effective, public health must ally itself at all levels with those working to bring about the  transition to a sustainable, just and healthy future, recognizing that in many cases these partners  have many decades of experience to share with us. While public health can provide an important health perspective and can provide leadership within the health care system, we need to support those experienced partners from other disciplines that, in many cases, will correctly continue to take the lead in the wider community and society.