Handbook of Human and Planetary Health (Climate Change Management)

This book contains a set of papers which explore the subject matter of human and planetary health at various anglesThe year 2015 was a special year in the field of human and planetary health. In that year, the report, produced by the Rockefeller Foundation and the journal The Lancet, called “Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: report of The Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on planetary health” was launched. Also in 2015, the World Health Organization and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity published the report “Connecting global priorities: biodiversity and human health: a state of knowledge review” with over 100 contributors, meant to guide future joint actions. Both documents comprehensively address the need for a better understanding of the connections between human health and ecosystems and the risks associated with damages to the integrity of the planet. The period in which humanity finds itself right now, the Anthropocene, is a risk one since mankind is putting the planet under considerable pressure. These elements have led to the emergence of a new field of research, namely planetary health. Planetary health seeks to address a very concrete and urgent contemporary problem, namely the need to understand, quantify, and act in order to reverse the effects of human population growth and the acceleration of socioeconomic activities on the environment and, inter alia, the disturbances in the Earth's natural ecosystems and how these, in turn, impact human health and well-being. Anthropic disturbances in natural ecosystems are characterized by changes in climate, land use, changes in the nitrogen and phosphorus cycle, chemical pollution of soil, water and air, reduction in the availability of drinking water, loss of biodiversity, destruction of the ozone layer, and ocean acidification, among others. In all these areas, there is a perceived need to document and promote examples of initiatives and good practice, which may change current trends. This book addresses this need. It documents experiences, case studies, and projects which explore the connections between human and planetary health and illustrates examples which show the consequences of ecosystemic disturbances to the health and well-being of humanity, with the emergence of new diseases, worsening of infectious diseases and increase in chronic non-communicable diseases related to the deterioration of the current food system, hyper-urbanization, microbial resistance, climate-led migration and zoonoses, among others. Planetary health is a new effort to deal with the question of sustainability and human life on the planet under an increasingly integrative, transdisciplinary, and global perspective, since the problems of this planetary crisis cross geopolitical borders and academic boundaries and affect humanity as a whole. This book provides a contribution to this emerging field. Thanks to its design and the contributions by experts from various areas, it provides a welcome contribution to the literature on planetary health, and it inspires further works in this field. Preface Contents Part I Concepts and Theoretical Frameworks 1 Modelling of Human Activities on Planetary Systems for Sustainable Living Introduction Methodology—Integrated Systems Analysis Explanation of the Basis of the Methodology, Results and Limitations of Presented Model Sustainable Systems Unsustainable System Conclusions References 2 Sustainable Management Model for Native Flora in the Face of Climate Change and Planetary Health Introduction Overview of Native Flora Characteristics of Native Flora as a Biocultural Resource Methodology Results and Discussión International Trade in Flora Study Framework for the Design of a Model for the Management of Native Flora Conclusions Limitations References 3 Entomophagy and the Nexus Between Human and Planetary Health Introduction Methodology Results Entomophagy and Human Healthy Dieting Are Insect Foods Safe to Eat? Discussion: Connecting Public and Planetary Health Through Edible Insects Conclusion and Final Reflections References 4 Future of Flood Control Projects in Bangladesh Considering the Health of Its Floodplain and Inhabitants Introduction Floodplain Country—Productive but Fragile Food Security in an Overpopulated Country Raising Flood Control Projects Impact on Health of Floodplain and Its Inhabitants New Projects—Shift of Paradigm Resuscitation of Ichamoti River (IWFM 2019a) Gowainghat FCDI Project (IWFM 2019b) Conclusion References 5 Ways to Protect and Preserve Human and Planetary Health Through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector in Schools Introduction Methodology Area Description Questionnaire Development Calculation of Sample Size Results and Discussion Worldwide WASH Coverage in Schools Assessment of the Availability and Status of Current WASH Services in Schools WASH Awareness Among Students Conclusions Limitation of the Research References 6 The Power of Gender Equality to Accelerate Planetary Health and Prevent Pandemics: Evidence and Practice Introduction Women’s Health on a Changing Planet A Snapshot of Gender Inequality Worldwide with a Focus on Health Women’s Health in Times of Planetary Crisis Gender-Transformative Policies to Accelerate Planetary Health and Enhance Pandemic Prevention Nature Protection and Diverse Leadership as Secret Ingredients for Transformative Action Gender Equality and Planetary Health: Pathways to Positive Change Conclusion References 7 Energy, and Human and Planetary Health: Is the Mutual Link Inevitable? Introduction Energy and Human Health Energy and Planetary Health Discussion and Conclusion References 8 Possible Role of Positive Stratospheric Ozone Anomalies and Adaptation to Climate Change Introduction Aims and Objectives Methods and Data Ozone Mechanism Theory Results Positive Ozone Anomalies Positive Ozone Anomalies and Stratospheric Intrusions Positive Ozone Anomalies and Sudden Stratospheric Warming Conclusions References 9 Handbook and Human and Planetary Health. Sustaining Planetary Health: Putting a Stop to Ecosystem Decline, Unsustainable Practices and Associated Human Suffering Introduction Ecosystems and Sustainability Practices Evidence of Declining Planetary Health Methods and Data Findings Current Approaches to Managing Ecological Losses Stopping Ecological Losses Nexus Between Human Health and Ecosystem Decline Expected Poor Planetary Health Discussion Biodiversity Conclusions Recommendations Limitations of the Study References 10 Planetary Health in Brazil Introduction Theoretical Grounds Methodology Results and Discussion Summary Considerations References Part II Practical Experiences and Case Studies 11 Coastlines Caught in the Middle: How Development Policy and Sea Level Rise Are Eroding Coastal Ecosystems in the United States Introduction The Importance and Value of Coastal Ecosystems The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Ecosystems United States Coastal Development Policy and Coastal Ecosystem Decline Policies Favoring Development and Redevelopment Climate Mitigation Policies and Coastal Ecosystem Decline Conclusions References 12 Vulnerabilities of Waste Scavengers to COVID-19 Impacts: Outcomes of an Exploratory Study in Ghana Introduction Methodology Study area Materials Procedures Results Discussion Conclusions References 13 Impact of Tourism Activities on Human Health and the Environment of a Riparian Ecosystem in Mexico Introduction Method Results and Discussion Conclusions References 14 Planetary Health Begins on Campus: Enhancing Students’ Well-Being and Health Through Prairie Habitat Restoration Introduction Methodology The Students Prairie Restoration Sites Prairie Gardens at Winona State University Main Campus TAU Prairie Garden GHP Prairie Savanna Research Instruments: The Survey Focus Group Questions Results: Quantitative Data Results of Qualitative Data (Focus Groups) Results of Qualitative Data: Document Analysis Discussion Conclusion References 15 “Health as a Social-technical Enterprise Anchored in Social-ecological Justice and Stakeholder Collaboration: Insights from Mexico-Lerma-Cutzamala Hydrological Region” Introduction Integrative Health Paradigms Health as ‘System’, Response as ‘Enterprise’: Our Theory of Change Knowledge Co-production Integrative Frameworks and Approach Conundrums and Integrative Domains Integrative Health Models and Methods Integrative Operational Frame Social-technical Capacity Building Enterprise Case Study Application Ethos, Framing and Questions Mexico-Lerma-Cutzamala Hydrological Region (MLCHR) Social-ecological Complexity: Defining the Study Region Spatial and Temporal Scales Stakeholder Enterprise Preliminary Systems Model Impact Science and Policy Limitations Conclusion References 16 Greek Students' Planetary Health Profile: A Master's Program in Environmental Communication and Health Promotion Introduction Ecological Consciousness How Can We Create a Shift in Consciousness? Environmental Communication Education Master in Environmental Communication and Health Promotion Methodology Study Design Means of Sampling Results and Discussion Demographics Conclusions Limitations Recommendation For Future Research References 17 The Untapped Potential of Early Childhood Education for Planetary Health: A Narrative Review Introduction Methodology Health in the Anthropocene Epoch Early Childhood Education for Planetary Health Climate Change and Children Strengths, Limitations and Future Directions Conclusion References 18 Enviro-Health Consequences of Unpaved Road Deterioration in Liberia: Implications for Development Introduction The Context of the Roads Methodology Data Generation Data Analysis Results Section One; Demographic Features of Users Section Two: Users General Perceptions on the Condition of the Road Section Three: Factors Affecting Travel Along the 209 Km Ganta-Zwedru Road Section Four: The Environmental and Health Consequences Associated with Travelling Along the Road Discussion Demographic Characteristics of Users Users’ General Perceptions on the Condition of the Road Factors Affecting Travelling Along the 209 km Ganta-Zwedru Road Environmental Consequences Associated with the Unpaved Roads Health Consequences Suffered by the Unpaved Road Users’ WAY FORWARD; Upgrading the Unpaved Ganta—Zwedru Road to Asphalt Standards Importance of Good Road to Agricultural Development Potential Areas for Agricultural Development Structures that Can Be Created by Good Road Networks Policy Consequences Limitations Conclusion References 19 The Nexus Between Biomass Burning, Black Carbon Air Pollution and Planetary Health in Africa Introduction Materials and Methods GEOS-5 Model-MERRA-2 Reanalysis MODIS 6 Active Fires Results Discussion Future Opportunities for Air Quality Policymakers on the African Continent Conclusion References 20 Climate Change and the Increase of Extreme Events in Azores Introduction Methodology Results Surface Air Temperature Average Annual Precipitation Annual maximum number of Consecutive Days with Precipitation