Health in the Global Environmental Agenda

The document argues that while nearly 25% of global deaths are linked to economic decisions affecting the environment, the health community remains largely invisible in global environmental negotiations. It identifies a 'triple planetary crisis' (biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution) and a 'Triple Billion' health burden, asserting that the merger of environmental and health governance is necessary to prevent environmental policies from negatively impacting health or widening inequities. The guide provides specific entry points for health stakeholders within Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), such as the CBD and UNFCCC, and recommends shifting toward multi-sectoral health governance where health data informs national environmental plans and health experts participate in intersessional decision-making bodies.

• There is a significant disconnect between the health sector and global environmental policy, despite the fact that nearly a quarter of global deaths are attributed to economic decisions that impact the environment.
• The global community faces a dual crisis: a 'triple planetary crisis' consisting of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, and a 'Triple Billion' health burden involving lack of healthcare access, inadequate protection from emergencies, and failing health metrics.
• In biodiversity governance, the draft global action plan on biodiversity and health fails to recognize that healthy ecosystems are a health determinant for 80% of the global population who use traditional medicine, and it omits references to children's health and the link between biodiversity and nutrition.
• Climate change governance shows a gap between the presence of health stakeholders at events and the actual adoption of health messages in negotiations; specifically, only 12% of parties sent representatives to COP 26 despite 81 of 95 surveyed ministries of health designating a health and climate focal point.
• Pollution governance is unique in its dual focus on human health and the environment, yet it struggles with 'pre-polluted' children and 'toxic trespass' of chemicals in bloodstreams; the health sector is urged to address pharmaceutical pollutants and medical waste, which are currently insufficiently governed.
• Food system governance requires a broader interpretation of nutrition and food security to address all forms of malnutrition and the relationship between nutrition, biodiversity, and traditional food culture.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2022). Health in the Global Environmental Agenda. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/health-environment-nexus-summary.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Health in the Global Environmental Agenda. 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/health-environment-nexus-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Health in the Global Environmental Agenda |date=January 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/health-environment-nexus-summary.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2022health, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Health in the Global Environmental Agenda}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/health-environment-nexus-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }