Planetary health leadership: why BMJ Leader will focus on it

Abstract

Healthcare professionals have always cared for the well-being of the patients they serve. Since a healthy ecosystem is foundational to human health, its care is also critical to the work of anyone caring for human health. In recent decades, numerous scientific disciplines have made tremendous strides towards understanding the limits of our planet to maintain resilience as a host for life. Earth system science has progressed towards ever-greater precision in understanding the specific planetary boundaries we need to strive to live within in order to maintain planetary health. This work began to formalise in 2009, with a planetary boundaries framework emerging as a means for quantifying these limits.1 In 2012, economist Raworth2 added social dimensions to the framework, creating a ‘doughnut economics’ model balancing resource use with human needs. In 2020, McKimm and McLean3 coined the term ‘eco-ethical’ leadership as a highly relevant approach in relation to the planetary health emergency. In 2021, MacNeill et al 4 introduced the notion of ‘Planetary Health Care’ to describe health systems’ responsibilities for pursuing operations consistent with preserving planetary health. As the science progresses, pressure is increasing on health leaders to incorporate a planetary health lens into …