The determinants of planetary health

This publication released in The Lancet Planetary Health takes on an ecocentric approach to conceptualise the determinants of wellbeing for our planet. In 2005, the WHO established the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), the aims of the Commission were to draw the attention of governments and society to the social determinants of health, and create better social conditions for health, particularly among the most vulnerable people.

The publication outlines that the determinants of health that have been outlined to date are primarily human centric and describe conditions that impact humans and communities directly, although some, such as the ecological determinants of health, have attributes that seemingly affect both people and planet (a healthy environment is needed to support healthy communities). The authors argue the need to take a ecocentric approach in order to understand and clearly conceptualise the determinants of wellbeing for Mother Earth herself (language can be used in a powerful way by framing the planet as the focal point of interest when considering these determinants). Therefore, a new lens could be used to describe and frame the combined factors and conditions that affect the health of the planet; the determinants of planetary health.

Find the full publication (in English) here.