Sustainable Global Wellbeing: A Proposed Expansion of the Occupational Therapy Paradigm

Abstract

Sustainable development has three mutually dependent pillars: economic development, social development and environmental protection. Climate change has been identified as the biggest global health threat this century, affecting all populations, and the National Health Service has committed to an 80% emissions cut by 2050. This opinion piece proposes that the paradigm guiding occupational therapy be expanded to incorporate a global perspective, thereby integrating exploration of sustainability issues. Sustainable global wellbeing acknowledges the interaction between individuals and the global ecosystem, gently reframing current occupational therapy interventions and supporting development of new community opportunities outside the health service. Health care that is more carbon efficient is generally also more financially efficient.