The framework also seeks to inspire all peoples across the globe to create, restore, steward, and conserve healthy ecosystems for a thriving human civilization.
The declaration calls on governments, the private sector, civil society, and the general public to commit to the Great Transition to safeguard a healthy and equitable future for humanity and protect all life on Earth.
The roadmap encompasses key domains, such as governance, education, business, and communications, providing a strategic framework to nurture this growing movement and safeguard the health and well-being of all life on Earth.
Human activities, such as energy generation and food production, have led to substantial global effects on the Earth's systems, prompting scientists to refer to the modern times as the Anthropocene.
[2] A group of Earth system and environmental scientists led by Johan Rockström from the Stockholm Resilience Centre proposed the concept of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come.
The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on Planetary Health report concluded that urgent and transformative actions are needed to protect present and future generations.
One important area which required immediate attention was the system of governance and organization of human knowledge, which was deemed inadequate to address the threats to planetary health.
The authors called for solutions based on the redefinition of prosperity to focus on the enhancement of quality of life and delivery of improved health for all, together with respect for the integrity of natural systems.
[2] Biodiversity loss, exposure to pollutants, climate change, and fuel consumption are all issues that threaten human and health, and are, as such, foci of the field.
A number of researchers think that it is actually humanity's destruction of biodiversity and the invasion of wild landscapes that creates the conditions for malaria,[23] and new diseases such as COVID-19.
[24][25] The Planetary Health Alliance is an informal global consortium of over 470 universities, non-governmental organizations, government entities, and research institutes with over 20,000 newsletter subscribers.
[26] The alliance’s mission is “to promote, mobilize, and lead an inclusive, transdisciplinary field of Planetary Health and its diverse science, stories, solutions, and communities to achieve a comprehensive shift in how human beings interact with each other and Nature, in order to secure a livable future for humanity and the rest of life on Earth.” Since November 2023, the secretariat of PHA is based at Johns Hopkins University alongside the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health.
The Planetary Health Alliance staff team and Impact Fellows work to support these diverse efforts by providing introductory resources, workshop materials, mentorship opportunities, and community-building platforms.
Ambassadors are empowered to take leadership on their campus and beyond, to educate their community, and to facilitate collaborations between existing disciplines and initiatives within the scope of human health and environmental change.
They also become part of the program's broader Next Generation Network, composed of individuals from a variety of academic and cultural backgrounds, career stages, and interests.
First launched at Harvard University, these meetings have evolved into comprehensive gatherings connecting diverse stakeholders including scientists, policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators, students, and community leaders from over 130 countries.
Through plenary sessions, research presentations, workshops, and community engagement activities, these meetings have been instrumental in building capacity, fostering collaboration, and driving actionable solutions for planetary health challenges.