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SSRP in Review: Planetary Health
By: Edwin Gilson
Last updated: Friday, 30 May 2025
Overview
Research in this theme investigates the connection between environmental health and human health around the world. Our ‘Planetary Health’ projects have explored the intersections of ecological and human flourishing, showing how the well-being of people and planet is inextricably linked.
Within this theme, we can see how the degradation of the Earth has dire consequences for the health of humanity, particularly in the Global South, where the effects of climate change are most impactful.
Sustainable Development Goals
The projects in this theme primarily focus on the Sustainable Development Goals for: Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Climate Action (SDG 13), as well as Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15), and especially their interactions.
International impact
‘Planetary Health’ projects have been based in the following countries: Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, China, India, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Cameroon, Brazil, Peru, UK.
Related resources
- We spoke to Professor Collins Iwuji about his project exploring the relationship between HIV treatment resistance and drought in South Africa for this blog.
- Jo Middleton told us about research combining rainforest protection and medical provision in Papua New Guinea for this blog.
- This article reflects on research into sustainable and equitable menstrual health led by Dr Chi Eziefula and Dr Anne Gatuguta, including the role of ‘citizen science’, an approach that encourages community participation.
- Dr Emanuela Orlando and Professor Siti Hafsyah Idris wrote this blog about the role of law in addressing eco-anxiety.
- Listen to the sound of a healthy reef ecosystem, an output from the ‘community-based conservation of coral reefs and fisheries in West Papua’.
The full list of projects in the ‘Planetary Health’ theme can be found here.
To find out more about SSRP research across our five themes, come to the launch event of the SSRP review report, ‘Positive Futures for People and Planet’. The report, which will be available to ready very soon, is a comprehensive document of SSRP research over the last seven years.