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  • Home
  • Timeline
  • examples
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  • Student Ambassadors
  • Meet our Laureates
    • Mario Molina
    • Bruce Ames
    • René Dubos
    • C. Everett Koop
    • Perry L. McCarty
    • Joel E. Cohen
    • Sir Richard Doll
    • Hans R. Herren
    • Yoel Margalith
    • Gilbert F. White
    • Kirk R. Smith
    • Sir Andy Haines
    • Meet the Laureates

Timeline: Key moments in Planetary Health

Global Change first linked to Human Health

A new idea

1991

Sir Andy Haines publishes the very first papers scientifically linking Climate Change and Human Health: 'Global Warming and Health' in the British Medical Journal (March), and 'Potential impacts on health of atmospheric change' in the Journal of Public Health Medicine (May). 


These papers were open about the lack of existing data on climate change, yet correctly predicted specific impacts on health, such as a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses, heat deaths, and pandemics.

A new idea - backed by research

1993

Sir Andy Haines publishes 'Climate Change and Human Health' in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. The report finds 'far reaching implications of climate change on health' - the first major study to do so.


The Lancet publishes 'Global Health Watch' soon after, linking human health and environmental change.

A new idea discussed

1993

Sir Andy Haines publishes 'Potential Effects on Health of Global Warming' in the International Conference on Global Warming Science and Policy in Chicago. 


Many conferences begin discussing the link between environmental change and health. 'Global changes in climate will affect health' appears in the British Medical Journal. 

A new idea formalized

1996

The World Health Organization publishes the first ever assessment of  'Climate Change and Human Health'


Evidence mounts...

Reports on the link between climate change and health begin to mount

Energy linked to health

2007

The Lancet publishes a series on Energy and Health. 

The series notes that simply replacing polluting biomass - such as wood or dung - with electricity leads to significant improvements in health and prospects for wealth creation and social advancement. 

Clean energy policies linked to health

2007

The Lancet publishes 'Policies for accelerating access to clean energy, improving health, advancing development, and mitigating climate change', co-authored by two Tyler Prize Laureates: Sir Andy Haines and Kirk R Smith. 


Co-benefits discovered

Reports find policies to reduce carbon emissions often result in improved health outcomes

Climate Policy as Health Policy

2009

The Lancet publishes a special series: Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: overview and implications for policy makers.  

Led by Andy Haines, the Series examined the health implications of policies aimed at tackling climate change, finding that mitigation strategies that benefit both health and climate "are potentially more cost effective and socially attractive".

Special Report

2015

The Lancet publishes a special report: Safeguarding Human Health in the Anthropocene Epoch, a report of The Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health.  

Co-authored by Andy Haines.


Planetary Health: A New Discipline

Planetary Health is finally recognized as a new discipline in its own right

'The Lancet: Planetary Health' is launched

2016

This new open-access journal "challenges current barriers between disciplines, and explores connections between them"

VIEW: What Is Planetary Health Infographic

Climate Change and Health officially linked

2018

World Health Organization launches a Special Report on Climate Change and Health at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.

The report outlines official policy recommendations.

Doctors Invited

2020

BMJ publishes 'The health case for urgent action on climate change'. Authored by Sir Andy Haines, the paper argues health professionals have a responsibility to take a leading role in tackling the pressing challenges of the Anthropocene.

Tyler Prize awarded to Sir Andy Haines

2022

The 'Nobel Prize for Environment' recognizes Sir Andy Haines leadership in the field of Planetary Health. 

Learn more about the work of Sir Andy Haines: TylerPrize.org

"There are many examples of actions that have had tangible beneficial effects"

The Pathfinder Initiative

To find practical pathways to zero-carbon, we need real-world examples.

In response to the need for urgent and decisive Climate Action, the Pathfinder Initiative is looking for real-world examples from a range of organisations, people and cities; showing how the implementation of well-designed policies and technologies can yield multiple benefits for people and planet.

Submit your case study

Submit your case study to the pathfinder initiative here

Health co-benefits of local renewable energy policy in the US

2019

Emil G Dimanchev et al 2019 Environ. Res. Lett. 14 085012

Co-benefits of carbon reduction on air quality and health in China

2021

Silu Zhang et al 2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 095011

Case Studies

Explore the health co-benefits of Planetary Health policies:

Contact us to submit your research for listing in this section

Climate, air quality, and health benefits of a carbon fee-and-rebate bill

2018

Jonathan J Buonocore et al 2018 Environ. Res. Lett. 13 114014

Health co-benefits of local renewable energy policy in the US

2019

Emil G Dimanchev et al 2019 Environ. Res. Lett. 14 085012

Co-benefits of carbon reduction on air quality and health in China

2021

Silu Zhang et al 2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 095011

Planetary Health Organisations

Meet those advocating for planetary health around the world

Planetary Health Alliance
Clinicians for Planetary Health (C4PH)
Doctors for the Environment Australia

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The Tyler Prize is administered by the University of Southern California.

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