43. Human Destruction of Earth and Its Effect on Our Health, Part 1

Summary

Planet earth is being destabilized as a result of human activity. Over half of the habitable land on earth is now used for human agriculture, 40% of our forests have been cut down, and humans now move more rock and sediment than any natural process. If we do not change our behavior quickly, it is likely that our planet will become unable to support human civilization as we know it. 

Morbidity and Mortality

70% of our crops rely on insect pollinators, but insect populations are collapsing. 40% of the human population live on the coast and could be underwater within  just 100 years. Deserts are expanding, forests are diminishing, wild fish stocks and wild animals have lost over 60% of their mass in just 40 years, and human health is at an all-time low.

Story

If humans act now and with great conviction, we can potentially avoid a catastrophe. But the window for action is closing rapidly.

Key Points

1. The earth is warming. In 50 years, the temperature has increased 1.1C, more than in the previous 10,000 years.

2. There is a mass extinction under way. The loss of species affects our own health. Even the micro-organisms that live on our body and promote health are becoming extinct.

3. New chemicals are hurting human health. Governments are all too willing to protect chemical companies over the health of people.

4. Eating healthy plant-based foods, supporting organic regenerative agriculture, protecting and expanding wild lands, planting trees and native plants, not using products that cannot be reused or recycled, and stopping all our carbon emissions by 2050 could save the planet. 

5. If we can do these things, our own health will improve, and we will assure a safe planet to live on for future generations.

References

-       Steffen et al. Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science. 2015.

-       Rockstrom and Attenborough. Breaking Boundaries – The Science of Our Planet. 2021. Netflix

-       Chemicals in the Environment – Dehumanizing Humanity. 2017. Royal College of London. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq2K1IvRf8M

-       Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/research/pollution-people

-       Meyer and Lemery. Health Implications of Environmental Change. Ch 121. Aurerbach’s Wilderness Medicine.

-       Experience as a medical doctor and naturalist

Share, rate, and review us