Time to treat the climate & nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency

The Indian Journal of Medical Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 158(4), P. 330 - 330

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Over 200 health journals call on the United Nations, political leaders and professionals to recognize that climate change biodiversity loss are one indivisible crisis must be tackled together preserve avoid catastrophe. This overall environmental is now so severe as a global emergency. The world currently responding nature if they were separate challenges. dangerous mistake. 28th Conference of Parties (COP) about held in Dubai while 16th COP due Turkey 2024. research communities provide evidence for two COPs unfortunately largely separate, but brought workshop 2020 when concluded that: 'Only by considering parts same complex problem…can solutions developed maladaptation maximize beneficial outcomes'1. As has recognized with development concept planetary health, natural made up interdependent system. Damage subsystem can create feedback damages another – For example, drought, wildfires, floods other effects rising temperatures destroy plant life, lead soil erosion inhibit carbon storage, which means more warming2. Climate set overtake deforestation land-use primary driver loss3. Nature remarkable power restore. deforested land revert forest through regeneration marine phytoplankton, act stores, turn over billion tonnes photosynthesising biomass every eight days4. Indigenous sea management have particularly important role play continuing care5. Restoring help replenishing could remove greenhouse gases from atmosphere vast scale6. However, actions may benefit harm planting forests type tree dioxide air damage fundamental healthy ecosystems7. impacts Human damaged directly both crisis, described previous editorials8,9, crisis10. will major result disruption social economic systems Shortages land, shelter, food water, exacerbating poverty, mass migration conflict. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, pollution spread infectious diseases some threats exacerbated change11. 'Without nature, we nothing', was UN Secretary-General António Guterres's blunt summary at Montreal last year12. Even keep warming below an increase 1.5°C pre-industrial levels, still cause catastrophic destroying nature. Access clean water human yet quality, causing rise water-borne diseases13. Contamination also far-reaching distant ecosystems runs off into ocean14. Good nutrition underpinned diversity variety foods, there been striking genetic Globally, fifth people rely wild species their livelihoods15. Declines wildlife challenge these populations, low- middle-income countries. Fish than half dietary protein many African, South Asian small island nations, ocean acidification reduced quality quantity seafood16. Changes use forced tens thousands closer contact, increasing exchange pathogens emergence new pandemics17. People losing contact environment declining linked increases non-communicable, autoimmune inflammatory metabolic, allergic neuropsychiatric disorders10,18. indigenous people, caring connecting especially health19. source medicines, thus constrains discovery medicines. Communities healthier access high-quality green spaces filter pollution, reduce ground opportunities physical activity20. Connection reduces stress, loneliness depression promoting interaction21. These benefits threatened urbanization22. Finally, experienced unequally between within countries, most vulnerable often bearing highest burden10. Linked this, inequality arguably fuelling crises. Environmental challenges social/health inequities share drivers potential cobenefits addressing them10. A emergency In December 2022, agreed effective conservation least 30 per cent world's coastal areas oceans 203023. Industrialized countries mobilize $30 year support developing nations do so23. agreements echo promises COPs. Yet, commitments not met. allowed pushed further brink, greatly risk arriving 'tipping points', abrupt breakdowns functioning nature2,24. If events occur, would globally catastrophic. risk, combined already occurring, World Health Organization (WHO) should declare three preconditions WHO situation public international concern25 it: (i) Is serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected; (ii) Carries implications beyond affected State's national border; (iii) May require immediate action. appear fulfill all those conditions. While accelerating sudden unexpected, certainly serious unusual. Hence, make this declaration before seventy seventh Assembly Tackling requires processes harmonized. first step, respective conventions push better integration plans equivalents3. scientists concluded, 'Critical leverage points include exploring alternative visions good rethinking consumption waste, shifting values related human-nature relationship, reducing inequalities education learning'1. All health. powerful advocates restoring tackling Political well flow crisis26. first, what it is: Comment being published simultaneously multiple journals. full list see: https://www.bmj.com/content/full-list-authors-and-signatories-climate-nature-emergency-editorial-october-2023. Financial & sponsorship: None. Conflicts Interest:

Language: Английский

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Time to treat the climate and nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency

BMJ, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. p2355 - p2355

Published: Oct. 25, 2023

Language: Английский

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Time to treat the climate and nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency

The Lancet, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 402(10413), P. 1603 - 1606

Published: Oct. 25, 2023

Language: Английский

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Land-Based Sources of Pollution Impacts on Coral Reefs in American Samoa

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Nutrientscape ecology: a whole-system framework to support the understanding and management of coastal nutrient connectivity

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(3)

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

Language: Английский

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Land use shapes riverine nutrient and sediment concentrations on Moorea, French Polynesia

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

Human activities drive changes in freshwater ecosystems by altering biogeochemical cycles. On high volcanic tropical islands, human can be compartmentalized steep terrain that delineates watershed boundaries. Patterns of activities, such as land use, affect adjacent stream through runoff sediment and nutrients, which varies seasonally the tropics a result seasonal rainfall. Here, we sought to reveal impacts on nutrient regimes rivers tracking patterns river chemistry across series watersheds Moorea, French Polynesia, between 2018 2019. Repeated sampling gradient revealed water varied with respect rainfall use. In particular, dissolved inorganic nitrogen was more concentrated higher rates clearing. Additionally, total suspended solids phosphate were when recent high. Our results show have substantial impact amounts nutrients transport, islands could facilitate movement materials from sea precipitation increases intensifying climate change.

Language: Английский

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A critical review of Natural Flood Management application and spatial prioritisation approaches in tropical island catchments

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 878, P. 162776 - 162776

Published: March 15, 2023

Tropical island communities face substantial hydrometrological threats, including flood inundation. Flood risk is increasing, driven by climate change but also other factors urbanisation, land-cover and land-use (LCLU) change, making management challenging to address in practice. Protecting, restoring, emulating the natural functions of catchments reduce risk, known as Natural Management (NFM), a promising method for improving management. Global NFM research its infancy tropical states has tended focus on individual catchment projects. Therefore, overall trends, challenges, opportunities are poorly understood and, until now, have not been reviewed across these geographies. A particular gap understanding how options can be best implemented within any - specifically where should located, modelling support decisions influence different characteristics decisions. This literature review aims explore what, used states, with specific spatial modelling. paper draws interconnections between multiple environmental science spheres, reviewing both academic grey better understand applied primary Pacific Island Countries Territories (PICTs). The highlights that some islands greater potential exploiting due their physical data availability. approaches need further developed adapted community requirements improve inland resilience at pace needed ensure resources directed optimally.

Language: Английский

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Nutrient thresholds to protect water quality, coral reefs, and nearshore fisheries

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 184, P. 114144 - 114144

Published: Sept. 27, 2022

A ridge-to-reef framework was developed for 26 watersheds around Guam. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) data were collected one year at the base of streams while coral and fish surveys conducted on adjacent reefs. Two independent analyses revealed a similar 0.10 mg/l DIN threshold beyond which negative impacts to water quality reefs existed. The influence next partitioned with respect second primary stressor, fishing pressure. While diversity negatively influenced by DIN, cover some stress-tolerant corals increased, such as Porites rus, making alone poor indicator watershed pollution. Less intuitive, predicted increased food-fish biomass that accounted generalist herbivores/detritivores, representing homogenized assemblages, pressure reduced biomass. Our thresholds resonated study in American Samoa suggesting broader guidance legislation may be emerging.

Language: Английский

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Localising terrestrially derived pollution inputs to threatened near-shore coral reefs through stable isotope, water quality and oceanographic analysis

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 193, P. 115193 - 115193

Published: July 1, 2023

Near-shore coral reefs are at high-risk of exposure to pollution from terrestrial activities. Pollution impacts can vary with site-specific factors that span sources, rainfall and oceanographic characteristics. To effectively manage pollution, we need understand how these interact. In this study, detect terrestrially derived nutrient inputs on near-shore Norfolk Island, South Pacific by analysis dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) stable isotopes. When compared a reef site predominantly oceanic inputs, found both the lagoon small adjacent catchment have signatures human-derived DIN shown through depleted δ15N in macroalgae. We find sites is associated known unknown mixing water open ocean. characterising highlight role context influencing for benthic communities even remote island systems.

Language: Английский

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Time to treat the climate and nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency

BMC Global and Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1(1)

Published: Dec. 6, 2023

Language: Английский

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