What’s the Green Economy Got to Do with Public Health?
Jul 7th, 2011 by BK
The answer is quite a bit, but the conversation hasn’t gotten very far yet.
For example, I didn’t meet anyone else from public health at last week’s David Suzuki Foundation Green Café to discuss gaps and opportunities for the green economy. I did meet people from businesses and labour, sustainability consultants, and recent grads (e.g., chemical engineering).
Also, most of the publications I found while working on a research proposal on climate justice were not from public health. The perspectives were economic and labour, social, and environmental.
As climate change continues to affect the entire planet, the green economy is projected to grow. It’s time for public health to have a bigger voice in the green economy. Climate is environment, and environment is one of the determinants of health. Public health will also need to address the health inequities that result because the already disadvantaged (e.g., the poor) will be more negatively affected by climate change.
But what can public health do?
First, public health can go where the conversations are already happening. There is still a lot of evolving dialogue on the green economy. There is room to learn and to seek opportunities for partnerships.
Second, public health can initiate new conversations. Take advantage of the momentum of the green economy.
Having a voice is just the beginning, but it has to start somewhere. Climate change affects us all. It’s too important for public health not to have a bigger voice.
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