Socio-economic change will come about when we realise that there is only one health

We need change to solve the environmental crisis, and the risks for the planet’s health can trigger action.

There is increasing evidence of humanity’s unsustainable course. A course that manifests itself especially in climate change, the biodiversity crisis and multiple forms of pollution. Three decades of scientific reports on environmental diagnosis have not been enough to significantly change the social structure and economic model. The breakthrough is coming from the close connections that are being demonstrated between the health of people and the health of ecosystems. People’s health depends as much on strictly health issues as on social aspects, such as, inequality, and ecological aspects, such as, biodiversity.

Reconnecting with nature and adapting our projects to natural rhythms and dynamics in the provision of goods and services, and in the regeneration of degraded areas, is not optional if we are concerned about our well-being and avoiding the risks of collapse that we are generating with our way of life. Shifting the focus and understanding that our health and survival depend on the state of ecosystems requires the coordination of our actions with a multidisciplinary approach.