Planetary Health European Hub

🌍 Book Club Reflection: Degrowth, Emotions, and Our Shared Future🌱 Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting a transformative Book Club session, led by Megan Milota, where we dove deep into "Less is More" by Jason Hickel. What we didn't anticipate was how much the session would make us feel—connecting us not just through ideas, but through shared emotions and personal stories. The answers were varied, from childhood memories of grandparent’s stories losing their crops during extreme weather events, to experiencing seasons differently or having an inner call to climate action. To kick off, we wrote down our thoughts and emotions as we answered a deeply personal question: “Do you remember your first experience with climate change?” This act of writing helped us connect not just intellectually, but emotionally—with memories of grandparents losing crops due to extreme weather or an inner call to act. This exercise led us into discussing complex themes, including dualism, the Anthropocene, and capitalism. As we explored the term degrowth, we discussed the problematic nature of capitalism—its dependence on infinite growth in a finite world. We questioned the GDP fallacy for well-being and unpacked the Anthropocene as an era shaped by human activity, though not all humans equally bear the responsibility. Degrowth, as Hickel presents it, is about planned reductions in excess resource use, balancing human needs with ecological limits. In practice, this means expanding what matters—like clean energy, public healthcare, and regenerative agriculture—while scaling down sectors that harm the planet, such as fossil fuels, private jets, and excessive consumerism. We also touched on alternative governance models like citizen assembliesto combat the failures of democracy and technocracy in addressing climate challenges. At the close, we once again put pen to paper, writing down our biggest fears and hopes for the future. From fears of global conflict to concerns about humanity's disconnection from nature, the range was wide. Yet we also found hope—believing in the power of small, dedicated movements to create meaningful societal change. 🌟 It was a session that sparked not only thought but action, emotion, and connection. Thank you to all who participated! As we are planning to organize a follow up to this session, which books would you like to discuss next? Let us know! #Degrowth #ClimateAction #PlanetaryHealth #Sustainability #BookClub #LessIsMore #JasonHickel #Capitalism #Anthropocene #Dualism

🌍 Webinar Announcement: “Climate realism and disinformation in the context of Planetary Health” with Mario Veen 🌍 We are excited to announce an upcoming science webinar with Mario Veen, interdisciplinary philosopher and senior researcher at the Lectoraat Communicatie in Digitale Transitie. Mario will be discussing how climate disinformation can be understood as part of the psychological and social responses to the climate and ecological crisis, specifically in the context of planetary health. 🧠💡 In this webinar, Mario will outline: Mechanisms on how to build resilience against disinformation through promoting awareness of the historical context of climate obstruction, psychological inoculation techniques and recognition of discursive disinformation patterns to combat climate disinformation. The role of misconception-based learning in fostering resilience and enhancing societal consciousness about the connection between climate and health. 🌟 Join us to explore how we can communicate the 'bad news' of planetary health without resistance—and instead foster constructive conversations that lead to real action. 📅 Date & Time: 16th of October, 3pm-4pm (CEST) 💻 How to join: message us for the Zoom link! About Mario: Mario has extensive expertise in discursive psychology and technology assessment, with a focus on enhancing climate conversations that empower professionals to tackle the climate crisis. His interdisciplinary work bridges philosophy, social interaction, and sustainability, making him a leading voice on climate resilience. 🌿 Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading experts in climate communication! #PlanetaryHealth #ClimateAction #Disinformation #Psychology #ClimateCrisis #MarioVeen #ScienceWebinar

Join us on October 15th! 🎓 PhD Defence: 'Early Life Exposure to Environmental Hazards and Infant Health' by Frida Soesanti.   📅 Date: Tuesday, October 15th 📍 Location: Academiegebouw (Utrecht University Hall) in Utrecht (Domplein 29, Utrecht) 🗒 Program: 10.15 (CEST): Start ceremony - Academiegebouw. (Domplein 29, Utrecht) Please arrive at 10.00 as the doors will close at 10.15   💻 Livestream: The defense can also be followed online with this link: https://lnkd.in/e-S8n7JC   Summary: The impact of harmful environmental factors on human health has become a major concern, especially during the prenatal and early postnatal stages of development. Exposure to environmental factors can result in long-term effects that may affect future generations. Although numerous studies have investigated the effects of environmental hazards in high-in come countries, there is an urgent need for more research in low-middle income countries, particularly those experiencing poor air quality. This thesis is based on two population studies conducted in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. The first part of the thesis examines the influence of household hazards on infant growth in mothers during pregnancy. The findings indicate that infants born to mothers heavily exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy had a significantly smaller head circumference at birth (11.09mm) compared to infants from nonexposed mothers. The second part of the thesis focused on the impact of exposure to outdoor air pollution during the antenatal and perinatal periods on infant health. Antenatal exposure to soot and NOx was observed to be associated with reduced birth length. The study provides evidence to inform policymakers about the negative effects of exposure to environmental hazards on children's health, especially for the fetus's fetal growth, immune system, and cardiovascular health.

🔥 New Nature Medicine study: Over 47,000 heat-related deaths in Europe in 2023, the second-highest in recent years. Some key takeaways: 🌡️ Societal adaptations since 2000 reduced heat-related fatalities by 80%, especially protecting the elderly. 🌍 Southern Europe and vulnerable populations face significant health inequalities from rising temperatures. ☀️ There is an urgent need for enhanced heat-prevention strategies as climate change intensifies. 🏥 Addressing health inequities is critical for protecting those most at risk from future climate impacts. Paper here: https://lnkd.in/geFF6rti #PlanetaryHealth #ClimateInequality #HealthEquity #Adaptation #ClimateChange

🚨 Updates from our Planetary Health Policy Working Group! 📜 Our Policy Working Group is actively working on policy material development, engagement with climate policy actors and experts, and several intern projects. 🌏 The Policy and Advocacy Working Group aims to be the interface between views and insights from members of the Planetary Health European Hub and governments, parliaments and other relevant actors in the European area, to further strengthen the position of Planetary Health on the political agenda, further integrate the concept of Planetary Health and sustainability into various policies, strategies, and policy agendas, and to support enhanced policy coherence and vertical coordination in support of Planetary Health at international, national, regional and local levels. For more information about our Working Groups, check out our website! https://lnkd.in/eJ3sPUtY

🌍 Globally, we are experiencing unprecedented crises of Earth's natural systems, from climate events to pollution and deforestation, all driven by human activity. These record-breaking disruptions have become full-blown humanitarian and health emergencies, affecting every aspect of human well-being. The Planetary Health Alliance and the American Public Health Association are co-hosting a free webinar that will use a Planetary Health lens to explore interconnected ecological determinants of health. Panelists will discuss the urgent need for a transdisciplinary approach to create a livable future where all people can thrive. Attendees will gain access to materials and practical tools specifically developed for educators to support them in teaching about the critical links between ecological systems and human health. 📅 Date: October 3, 2024, at 2:00 PM EDT (6:00 PM UTC). ✨ Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/eeJ-UQx4 #PlanetaryHealth #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #ClimateChangesHealth

Join us for our webinar: "Planet4Health": A Multisectoral Approach to Adaptation & Mitigation of Adverse Effects of Vector-Borne Diseases, Environmental Pollution, and Climate Change on Planetary Health. When: Wednesday, September 11th at 3pm CEST Where: Online (message us on LinkedIn for the Zoom link!) Who: Stefano Campostrini and Gaia Bertarelli Stefano Campostrini is a full professor of Social Statistics at the University of Ca' Foscari of Venice (Italy), and previously held positions as professor at the University of Pavia, associate professor at the University of Padua, and research fellow at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). His main research interests lie in the application of statistics to support decision-making processes, particularly in the context of health and social policies and interventions. This interest has led to collaborations and leadership roles in numerous research projects focusing on evaluation, needs analysis, information systems, health systems, health inequalities, governance, and social innovation. Professor Campostrini has published more than 200 scientific works and has served on the scientific committees of several international and national congresses and meetings. He is a member of the editorial boards of several national and international journals, such as such as Statistical Methods and Application , or International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Global Public Health  Gaia Bertarelli is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Social Statistics at the Department of Economics of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. She obtained a BSc in Mathematics and a Master degree in Biostatistics and Experimental Statistics. Under the supervision of Prof. Maria Giovanna Ranalli, she was awarded a PhD in Statistics in December 2015. In the following years, she worked at the University of Perugia and at the University of Pisa as post-doc researcher; and at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa as junior assistant professor, before moving to Venice in February 2023. In 2019-2020 Gaia was counselor and coordinator of the ySIS section, the group of statisticians under 35 of the SIS, Italian Statistical Society. For the two-year period 2024-2025 she is an elected member of the coordinating group of S2G, the SIS Survey Sampling group.

What are the human health implications of losing biodiversity? A key example just out today in Science: The drastic decline of insect-eating bats in North America was linked to an 8% increase in human infant mortality. With the decline in bats that preyed on crop pest insects, there was a concomitant 30% increase in insecticide use by farmers - chemical compounds that are known to be detrimental to human health. The analysis also showed that the financial losses attributable to the decline in bat populations were $26.9 billion. https://lnkd.in/efj4BBiZ Eyal Frank

As urbanization increases, it is critical for #UrbanPlanners and #PolicyMakers to understand how different urban configuration patterns impact the #Environment and #HumanHealth. 🌍🏙️ ✨ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e9UJeH84 The Lancet

JUST RELEASED: In an era marked by uncertainty and disruptive change, this report by UN Environment Programme and International Science Council emphasizes the power of foresight and proactive strategies to safeguard #PlanetaryHealth and human #Wellbeing. The report provides insights on 8 critical global shifts and calls for global action against the triple planetary crisis of #ClimateChange, #BiodiversityLoss, and #Pollution, offering a visionary path towards a regenerative and resilient future. 🌿🤝 ✨  Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d8hv3GMj