Public health guide to field developments linking ecosystems, environments and health in the Anthropocene

TLDR

Global environmental change has spurred diverse approaches linking ecosystem, non‑human, and human health, but overlapping terminology creates confusion. This paper offers a clear guide to seven environmental public health field developments, including occupational and environmental health, political ecology, environmental justice, ecohealth, One Health, ecological public health, and planetary health. The guide defines each field by its distinctiveness, historical context, and core literature, and discusses intersecting features and convergence opportunities. The resulting field guide supports integrative research, policy, education, and action to address contemporary health and sustainability challenges.

Abstract

The impacts of global environmental change have precipitated numerous approaches that connect the health of ecosystems, non-human organisms and humans. However, the proliferation of approaches can lead to confusion due to overlaps in terminology, ideas and foci. Recognising the need for clarity, this paper provides a guide to seven field developments in environmental public health research and practice: occupational and environmental health; political ecology of health; environmental justice; ecohealth; One Health; ecological public health; and planetary health. Field developments are defined in terms of their uniqueness from one another, are historically situated, and core texts or journals are highlighted. The paper ends by discussing some of the intersecting features across field developments, and considers opportunities created through such convergence. This field guide will be useful for those seeking to build a next generation of integrative research, policy, education and action that is equipped to respond to current health and sustainability challenges.