What's the challenge?

Human health is directly linked to air pollution, food systems and extreme weather events.  As the world has dramatically altered our surroundings through use and abuse of natural resources, these changes are having profound negative impacts on our health and well-being – now and increasingly in the future.

• Pollution is resulting in respiratory diseases and millions of deaths, mostly among young children.
• Overfishing, warming, and acidification of oceans are disrupting ecosystems and fish supplies, resulting in food insecurity, disease, and poverty.
• Extreme weather events driven by global environmental change are a significant cause of illness and death.Carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activity are altering the nutritional content of our food and undermining food security through desertification.

What are we doing about it?

From 2016 to 2018, Panorama partnered with The Rockefeller Foundation to create a strategy and resources to grow the nascent field of planetary health, which is defined as “the interdependence of human health, animal health, and the health of the environment.”

Drawing on our relationships with planetary health stakeholders and an in-depth analysis, we developed the Panorama Perspectives: Conversations on Planetary Health report series, which aimed to inspire new thinking, conversations, and engagement with planetary health and other integrated concepts. These reports were created as practical tools, presenting actionable opportunities to advance planetary health. Each report expanded on knowledge gathered from many sources, including analysis of publicly available reports and data; forums and events; group discussions; and individual conversations.

Who are our partners?

Our partners included funders, multilateral organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academics and research institutions, and grass-roots groups. To further integrate health and environment platforms for action and policy, we worked most closely with The Rockefeller Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the Planetary Health Alliance, the Bridge Collaborative, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

“I am so grateful to have come across [the Planetary Health series] and, of course, am thoroughly delighted to see biodiversity and health reflected in them! Your conversations in the Planetary Health series is terrific throughout. We greatly value your ongoing support in helping us spread the word about the vital interlinkages at this critical nexus.” – Dr. Cristina Romanelli, Lead on Biodiversity, Human Health & Sustainable Development Goals, Convention on Biological Diversity

What is our progress?

Our report series covered five relevant topics for the growth of planetary health. The reports were distributed between October 2017 and May 2018.

• Planetary Health 101: Information and Resources – A starter guide with key background information, resources, and opportunities to get involved
• The Planetary Health Landscape: From Concept to Action – The state of planetary health and recommendations on engaging decision makers
• Global Policy Opportunities for Planetary Health: A Review of Existing Policy Frameworks – A review of global frameworks aligned with planetary health and recommendations on immediate entry points to influence policymakers
• Issue and Policy Intersections for Planetary Health: Finding National Entry Points
• The Philanthropic Funding Landscape for Integrating Health and Environment (co-authored with the Bridge Collaborative) – The existing landscape of philanthropic donors working to integrate human health and the environment, and practical ways to increase funding