Sustainable Use of Natural Resources from a Planetary Health Perspective

Planetary health – ever heard of it? And what does it have to do with the natural resources? If these concepts are new to you, you’re in the right place. This emerging field is more relevant than ever, directly impacting you and your health. Keep reading and you’ll understand why.

Humankind will not survive on planet Earth without the resources provided by nature. When we consider human health and well-being, it is important to understand our dependence on nature in various ways. This understanding is central to the concept of Planetary Health.

Ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources is essential for the health of both humans and nature. So why do we continue to destroy nature and overconsume its resources, when our own health and the health of future generations are at stake?

The Cost of Our Consumption

Currently, our consumption levels are alarmingly high. It is estimated that we would need 1.8 Earths to produce the natural resources consumed by humans each year, and by 2050, we will need three Earths. These rates of consumption are desperately high and a significant threat to future generations, jeopardizing their ability to live healthy lives. If we continue this path, we will run out the natural resources necessary for survival. And soon there might be nothing we can do about this. The time to act is now!

People might find the concept of sustainable resource use challenging and seemingly insignificant on an individual level. If we raise awareness that it affects to our health, it might be easier to understand that. So, it is truly important that we talk about this topic and make it prominent.

Although some natural resources can renew themselves, our consumption rate is so excessive that renewal processes cannot keep pace. For example, in 2024, Finland’s overshoot day was as early as April 12th. This means that from that date onwards, all consumption is an ecological debt. How long can the health of human and health of our planet withstand such a consumption rate? Should these figures not awaken even the most hardened and inattentive among us?

The Impact on Human Health

Unsustainable use of natural resources has undeniable implications to human health. As biodiversity is lost, ecosystems degrade, and species disappear, disrupting the natural balance that supports life. This weakens ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and disease regulation. For example, the disappearance of pollinators like bees can threaten food production, leading to reduced availability of nutritious foods and increased food insecurity.

The loss of biodiversity also increases the occurrence of vector-borne diseases (a disease transmitted from animals to humans). As the habitat of wild animals decrease, they come into closer contact with humans, which raises the risk of infections spreading.

The deterioration of nature’s health also causes psychological health issues to human. Future might seem scary and hopeless.

Beyond biodiversity loss, other impacts of natural resource depletion are equally concerning. Air and water pollution, resulting from the overuse of fossil fuels and industrial processes, contribute to a rise in respiratory and waterborne diseases. Poor air quality is linked to asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and lung cancer, while contaminated water sources can lead to serious infections.

The deterioration of nature’s health also causes psychological health issues to human. We already see a lot of anxiety and depression among people, especially young people, due to the suffer of nature. We mourn the extinction of animals and the destruction of forests around the world. Future might seem scary and hopeless.

Let’s Not Just Talk the Talk but Walk the Walk

Firstly, it is time to make radical political decisions to promote reduced consumption. These decisions must extend to the government and corporate levels as well as the individual level. This must include a strict reduction in resource consumption and an improvement in resource efficiency. We must underline reusing, repairing, and recycling. Let’s move from linear economy to circular economy.

Secondly raising awareness is extremely important. Information about this topic should be included in primary school curricula. We need to create the culture where children and young people understand that unnecessary consumption is truly harmful and that it is much better to use recycled products rather than new ones made from natural resources. Sure we, who have already lived longer on this planet and have benefited from the resources it offers, should set an example through our actions for future generations.

At The End

The sustainable use of natural resources is a crucial aspect of ensuring planetary health. It is essential to recognize that human health and well-being are intricately linked to the health of our natural environment. Therefore, we must act responsibly and sustainably to ensure that our planet and its inhabitants bloom now and in the future.

By making conscious choices and adopting sustainable practices, we can help safeguard the health of our planet and ourselves. What kind of choices you have made recently, and could you change your consumption habits to be more sustainable?

 

 

Authors

Jonna Manninen
Circular economy student
Master School, Turku UAS

Tuuli Lahti
Degree programme leader & principal lecturer
Master School, Turku UAS

 

Photo: Pixabay