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Planetary Overload, Limits to Growth and Health
1Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Locked Bag 1, Canberra, 2601, Australia. colin.butler1955@gmail.com.
Current Environmental Health Reports
|September 26, 2016
Summary
Global civilization faces existential risks due to environmental degradation. Public health must address these emerging threats and promote a "social vaccine" for environmental action.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Global Risk Assessment
Background:
- Warnings about global civilization's survival risks date back to 1945.
- Environmental concerns, highlighted by 'The Limits to Growth,' have largely faded despite ongoing risks.
- Public health has been slow to engage with the debate on civilization-level threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review literature and concepts related to global civilization risks.
- To alert health workers to emerging and future health consequences of environmental crises.
- To introduce the concept of a "social vaccine" to motivate environmental action.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of key concepts and relevant works.
- Analysis of historical and contemporary concerns regarding civilization survival.
- Conceptualization of a "social vaccine" strategy.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests civilization is at risk from a complex of ominous events.
- The concept of a "social vaccine" is proposed to balance anxiety and action.
- Health workers need to be informed about these critical public health issues.
Conclusions:
- Civilization survival is a critical public health issue requiring urgent attention.
- A "social vaccine" could be a tool to foster necessary environmental protection behaviors.
- Proactive engagement by public health is essential to address existential environmental threats.
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