Definition of Planetary Health
The idea of planetary health stresses the interconnectedness between environmental health and human health. When talking about the planet’s health, the health of human civilization, and the green infrastructure it relies on, come to mind. For instance, soil affected by arsenic due to industrial activity and cultivation with contaminated groundwater has increased arsenic levels in rice, a significant source of cancer risk for humans (Zhu et al., 2019).
Planetary health emphasizes the interdependence of processes and events that, at first glance, seem unrelated. A lack of zinc, for instance, might be caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, which reduce agricultural plants’ ability to absorb nutrients and lead to poor human nutrition. This is why drawing parallels between environmental and human health is so important nowadays.
Connection Between Planetary Health and Healthcare Delivery
The obstacles to achieving global wellness are multifaceted, touching on many fields, industries, geographies, cultures, and sizes. Therefore, nurses must identify the connections between environmental changes and their effects on patients and incorporate them into their professional practice (Potter, 2019). To realize net zero emissions by 2050 and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent in 10 years, several nations have pledged to fast, far-reaching, and dramatic reforms, namely in healthcare (Shaw et al., 2021). Members of health-related fields, however, need more skills to effect these shifts.
Therefore, health professions education must provide students and already-qualified professionals with the information, expertise, ethics, competence, and confidence necessary to minimize emissions and accomplish sustainable development goals. These activities are crucial in conserving the earth for future generations and promoting their health, human rights, and well-being.
As Potter (2019) argued, rather than undergoing radical revision, nursing care needs to be extended to a far larger population—the whole world. More and more nurses are gaining knowledge and experience in advanced nursing practice to lead global health projects better, which is a strong indicator of progress. Healthcare delivery and global health initiatives are intrinsically linked. Care that puts the patient at the center and puts health and wellness ahead of diagnosis and treatment is essential for changing the healthcare system’s culture to use scarce resources responsibly.
Current Planetary Health Initiatives in the United States
Reducing emissions from the delivery of health services is one of the primary goals of sustainable healthcare, along with improving the system’s overall effectiveness and its impact on the environment. The need to decarbonize health systems’ procedures has been emphasized in most scholarly articles on healthcare sustainability and systemic effort toward this aim (MacNeill et al., 2021). Integral to achieving global health is improving the environmental efficiency of buildings, decarbonizing hospital energy sources, and electrifying transportation networks.
Nurses Climate Challenge
Regarding climate change’s effects, health care is on the front lines because of the expenses associated with rising illness rates and more common severe weather conditions. The “Nurses Climate Challenge” campaign has been created to organize nurses to educate 50,000 health professionals in the United States about the effects of climate change on human health (Nurses Climate Challenge, n.d). Currently, the program has reached nearly 53,000 nurses around the country(Nurses Climate Challenge, n.d). A nurse’s understanding of climate change may be tested and enhanced via the website’s questionnaires, and a map allows nurses to connect. A movement of healthcare providers dedicated to preventing the effects of climate change on their patients and communities is sparked by the “Nurses Climate Challenge.”
As part of this initiative, researchers used the Climate, Health, and Nursing Tool (CHANT) to collect data on nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and actions about the link between climate change and their patients’ and families’ well-being. The 489 respondents had a modest understanding of climate change and a high degree of worry about its effects on human health (Schenk et al., 2021). This study found that respondents were aware of climate change and health consequences and eager to take preventative measures (Schenk et al., 2021). However, they reported modifying their behavior at work or speaking about climate and health with their colleagues or elected authorities less often.
Planetary Health Initiative
The Yale School of Nursing has developed yet another initiative concerned with planetary health. Yale School of Nursing (YSN) has begun a program called the Planetary Health Initiative to address the global environmental catastrophe. All of their efforts in research, education, and service will be coordinated and amplified in this way to benefit human and environmental health. They coordinated their activities with people throughout Yale, the US, and the world.
First responders like nurses and midwives are essential to meeting the health care requirements of affected communities at times of natural disaster, pandemic outbreaks, contamination, and forced migration. For instance, in 2021, they hosted an online school for nurses and midwives to inspire them to seek political office and influence public policy on climate change and health (Yale School of Nursing, 2022). Furthermore, Dean Kurth collaborated with the Climate Task Force and the PSP committee to articulate Yale’s institutional strategy for addressing issues related to the planet’s future.
References
MacNeill, A. J., McGain, F., & Sherman, J. D. (2021). Planetary health care: A framework for sustainable health systems. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(2), e66–e68. Web.
Nurses Climate Challenge. (n.d). Nurses Climate Challenge. Bear Skin. Web.
Potter, T. (2019). Planetary health: The next frontier in nursing education. Creative Nursing, 25(3), 201–207. Web.
Schenk, E. C., Cook, C., Demorest, S., & Burduli, E. (2021). Climate, health, and nursing tool (CHANT): Initial survey results. Public Health Nursing, 38(2), 152–159. Web.
Shaw, E., Walpole, S., McLean, M., Alvarez-Nieto, C., Barna, S., Bazin, K., Behrens, G., Chase, H., Duane, B., El Omrani, O., Elf, M., Faerron Guzmán, C. A., Falceto de Barros, E., Gibbs, T. J., Groome, J., Hackett, F., Harden, J., Hothersall, E. J., Hourihane, M.,… Woollard, R. (2021). AMEE consensus statement: Planetary health and education for sustainable healthcare. Medical Teacher, 43(3), 272–286. Web.
Yale School of Nursing. (2022). Planetary Health Initiatives. Yale School of Nursing. Web.
Zhu, Y. G., Zhao, Y., Zhu, D., Gillings, M., Penuelas, J., Ok, Y. S., Capon, A., & Banwart, S. (2019). Soil biota, antimicrobial resistance and planetary health. Environment International, 131. Web.