Promoting environmental sustainability through a health in all policies approach

Environmental sustainability relates to the commitment of an organization to policy initiatives concerning environmental issues. These environmental issues include air quality, water, pollution, solid waste management, biodiversity, ecosystem management, protection of natural resources and wildlife. The overall topic of environmental policy also includes policies and practices concerning regulation of environmental toxins such as environmental waste and pesticides. Policies have the profound ability to directly influence and protect human life globally.  Prudent policy development, implementation and dissemination infer a course of action for an individual, business, government, state and nation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports protecting health for global environmental change. This requires management at many different levels which spans the social and economic drivers of environmental change to the resulting hazards and exposures for human populations. WHO promotes policies that link the environment with health hazards by providing health expertise into the UN Conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity and Desertification. Equally germane is advising the health sector on the necessary responses to address the health risks posed by large scale environmental change. WHO MDG 7 and the SDG’s ensure environmental sustainability. They promote the integration of sustainable conservation and development into a county’s policies and programmes. The United Nations Beijing +20 Platform for Action affirms the environmental connection which is essential for quality of life and is above all a human right.  In sum, a Health in All Policies systems approach must be considered in all population based initiatives to achieve long term goals and health equity.