Planetary Health

What is Planetary Health?

Planetary Health is an emerging trans-disciplinary field, encompassing the connections between human health and the natural/physical sciences, and broadly integrating the related fields of public health, geo health, one health, global health, etc. A complicated field, planetary health is, perhaps, best defined by the Lancet Commission on Planetary Health in its 2015 report as "the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends." To learn more watch Dr. Howard Frumkin of the University of Washington School of Public Health discuss the importance of planetary health.

Planetary Health Alliance

The Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) is a consortium of more than 280 universities, NGOs, and other partners with a shared mission — supporting the growth of a rigorous, policy-focused, transdisciplinary field of applied research aimed at understanding and addressing the human health implications of accelerating anthropogenic change in Earth’s natural systems.

PHA Resources

The PHA has developed a robust online repository of open-access resources for educators, including sample syllabi, learning objectives, key publications, and other classroom materials. UNE faculty are encouraged to contribute to and access these resources at the PHA website. To share your own developed resources, please visit the Planetary Health Education page. At the bottom of the page is the "Licensing and Fair Use Agreement" with a link to a survey that will walk you through uploading documents to share.

UNE application for membership to Planetary Health Alliance (PDF)
Planetary Health Infographic (PDF) by The Lancet
Safeguarding Health in Anthropocene Epoch (PDF) in The Lancet
Planetary Health definitions and diagrams (PDF), Howard Frumkin slides, 2017 PH annual meeting
Work of other institutions in Planetary Health (PDF), Gen Meredith slides, 2017 PH annual meeting
Human Health Impacts of Ecosystem Alterations (PDF) by Myers et al, proceedings of National Academy of Sciences
A Case for Planetary Health/GeoHealth (PDF) by Almada et al, American Geophysical Union publications

UNE Planetary Health Council

Given the alignment of PHA’s mission with the global and innovative mission of UNE, the University joined many other academic institutions, government bodies, non-profit organizations, and research institutes as an institutional member of the PHA in April 2017. Thus was born the UNE Planetary Health Council. Composed of faculty and professional staff, the council contributes programming to the field of planetary health and advocates for an interdisciplinary approach to more fully integrated planetary health concepts into curricula and student learning experiences across the University’s colleges

Mission

UNE will coordinate and elevate Planetary Health education and research initiatives; develop a range of interdisciplinary local to global learning opportunities grounded in Planetary Health and accessible to all members of its community; and educate and celebrate Planetary Health leaders who impact our workplaces and communities.

Vision

UNE, a local and global leader in planetary health education, research, and outreach ensures that all members of its community are prepared to live and work as planetary health leaders.

Presentations and Events

Read past presentations

Baeder C. Using a planetary health framework to initiate integration of health and environmental sciences in higher education and research (PDF). Poster presentation at: Maine Public Health Association 2019 Annual Conference; October 8, 2019; Augusta, Maine, United States.

Gunderman J, Parker H. Catalyzing planetary health engagement at a university (PDF). Poster presentation at: Planetary Health Alliance 2018 Annual Meeting; May 29-31, 2018; Edinburgh, Scotland.

Baeder C, Farady S, Cariddi A. An Innovative Event Production & Implementation Model to Advance Sustained Transdisciplinary Collaboration in Higher Education (PDF). Oral presentation at: 4th Annual Heartland Interprofessional Education Conference; July 22, 2022; Virtual.