Human health and wellbeing and the health of the biosphere are inextricably linked. The state of Earth’s life-support systems, including freshwater, oceans, land, biodiversity, atmosphere, and climate, affect human health. At the same time, human activities are adversely affecting natural systems entering the Anthropocene geological epoch. 

In this light, the Future Earth Health Knowledge-Action Network held a Webinar to discuss the process and emerging main themes identified for their research agenda to address cross-cutting knowledge gaps to further understanding and management of the health risks through an expert consultation and review process.. The agenda was developed and published in a special issue on “Ten Years of Urgent Action: Global Environmental Threats to Health and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. A subset of the authors presented and discussed the following themes i.e.:

1. Health risks of global environmental change (including related to water, hygiene, sanitation, and waste management); food production and consumption; oceans; and extreme weather events and climate change;
2. Socioeconomic trends that interact with these global environmental changes and consequently affect our health and wellbeing and that of the planet;
3. Research priorities for human and planetary health 

The research agenda has two main categories. One is risk identification and management, including water, hygiene, sanitation, and waste management; food production and consumption; oceans; and extreme weather events and climate change. The other category is strengthening climate-resilient health systems, including monitoring, surveillance, and evaluation; and risk communication. 

The team highlighted that research approaches taken to fulfill this agenda need to be transdisciplinary, multi-scalar, inclusive, equitable, and broadly communicated. These approaches need to also promote resilient and sustainable development.

Going forward, the team will set up an action plan and engage in Working Groups to bring the agenda in practice aiming to promote human health and well-being as the central focus when prioritizing adaptation and mitigation investments.

We welcome everyone interested in the Health Knowledge-Action Network to join and engage with us through the Health circle on the Future Earth Members platform. We also want to thank all the authors and contributors to this important work that will guide the Health community collaborations.

This webinar was based on a publication which can be accessed here.