The climate and ecological crises are both driven by human activities. They each have catastrophic implications for human health and their strong interconnection creates a vicious circle where each is reinforced by the other. A stable natural environment is critical for limiting global warming and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conversely, the loss of biodiversity is a major threat to human, animal, and environmental health. In order to mitigate harm and maximise the co-benefits of action, it is important that policies tackle both climate change and biodiversity loss together. Our policy report, describes the impacts of biodiversity loss on land and oceans for human health and puts forward recommendations to reduce biodiversity loss, restore nature, and achieve climate goals for the benefit of health.
Our Recommendations: Part I – Terrestrial ecosystems
Protect, restore and regenerate nature and biodiversity in urban places
Prioritise & promote plant-based and sustainably sourced food, limit waste and build resilience against food insecurity
Ensure delivery of the International Financial Commitments to support nature and biodiversity
Our Recommendations: Part II – Marine ecosystems
End all subsidies, investments and new exploration for fossil fuels
Ban unnecessary plastics and scale up alternatives
Tackle pharmaceutical pollution in water bodies
Final Recommendation: Strengthen global finance and collaboration for marine ecosystems
International financial flows, capacity-building, inclusive decision making and multidisciplinary solutions.
Our Recommendation.
What are the key health and environmental professionals saying about the report?
Food system transformation is essential for restoring nature and preventing further climate breakdown. Shifting towards plant-based diets also provides co-benefits for improving human health, addressing antibiotic resistance, reducing pandemic risk and being kinder and more compassionate towards our fellow non-human animals. There are no downsides to adopting a plant-based diet and it’s a hugely impactful action many of us can undertake immediately.
Dr Shireen Kassam, Consultant Haematologist at King’s College Hospital, London and Founder of Plant Based Health Professionals UK
By harming our natural ecosystem, we’re also harming our health. Those in power must recognise the reality of the warnings made in this report and take urgent and firm action to protect nature. Medicines are a crucial intervention in healthcare, we recognise the environmental impact of pharmaceutical products on the environment and our waters. We are committed to working with our colleagues for increased awareness and action in this area and all those highlighted to safeguard both human and ecological health. If action is not taken we are sure to be facing increases in non-communicable diseases, reduced capacity to develop new medicines and antimicrobial resistance. Together, with a united effort, we can contribute to the preservation of our natural world and the wellbeing of future generations.
Professor Claire Anderson, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
This is an important and timely report that highlights the need to reaffirm and strengthen government commitments to protect our environment and encourage biodiversity. Our health and well-being are directly affected by the environment in which we live, with communities already facing disadvantages particularly vulnerable to the impacts of environmental degradation. Protecting the natural environment is key to improving health and we support the actions set out in this report.
Prof. Paul Johnstone, Chair of the Faculty of Public Health’s Climate and Health Committee