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Planetary Health: A New Reality

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  • Jonathan D. Salk

    (Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychiatry, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, 11980 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 810, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA
    in VIVO Planetary Health, of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), West New York, NJ 10704, USA)

Abstract

The grand challenges of our time—climate change, biodiversity losses, and global non-communicable disease rates—underscore that humanity and the planet are in crisis. Planetary health provides a unifying concept wherein efforts toward remediation and survival can be concentrated. Evidence derived from the animal kingdom and from human demography suggest that there is cause for optimism in planetary health. With proper navigation, a transition toward a new epoch—one of symbiotic flourishing—is possible. Responses to the current challenges can usher in a new reality, one in which the core value is the well-being of all. This paper presents the philosophies and perspectives of renown biophilosopher, Jonas Salk, who—after developing the first effective vaccine to prevent polio, one of the great achievements in public health—expanded his vision beyond the prevention of individual diseases to that of addressing the basic problems of humankind. This vision is very much in line with our current understanding of and approach to planetary health. In response to changing conditions, planetary limits, and evolutionary pressure, new values, new communities, and new modes of interacting will likely emerge and be integrated with developments in science, technology, economics, the arts, and international relations, resulting in our survival and enhanced health and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan D. Salk, 2019. "Planetary Health: A New Reality," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:7-:d:198062
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Susan L. Prescott & Alan C. Logan & Glenn Albrecht & Dianne E. Campbell & Julian Crane & Ashlee Cunsolo & John W. Holloway & Anita L. Kozyrskyj & Christopher A. Lowry & John Penders & Nicole Redvers &, 2018. "The Canmore Declaration: Statement of Principles for Planetary Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Susan L. Prescott & Alan C. Logan, 2017. "Down to Earth: Planetary Health and Biophilosophy in the Symbiocene Epoch," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-22, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Cole & Adam Eskdale & Jonathan D. Paul, 2022. "Tackling AMR: A Call for a(n Even) More Integrated and Transdisciplinary Approach between Planetary Health and Earth Scientists," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Margot W. Parkes & Sandra Allison & Henry G. Harder & Dawn Hoogeveen & Diana Kutzner & Melissa Aalhus & Evan Adams & Lindsay Beck & Ben Brisbois & Chris G. Buse & Annika Chiasson & Donald C. Cole & Sh, 2019. "Addressing the Environmental, Community, and Health Impacts of Resource Development: Challenges across Scales, Sectors, and Sites," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-27, March.
    3. Colin D Butler, 2019. "Philanthrocapitalism: Promoting Global Health but Failing Planetary Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-20, March.

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