umans,
like other forms of life on Earth, are dependent upon the capability
both of local ecosystems and of the global ecosphere for maintaining
health. However, in relatively recent times, humans, particularly in
industrialized countries, have developed an erroneous perception of
being separate from nature's processes.
(photo: World Health Organization)
Many different measurement techniques show that current global patterns
of human activity (over-consumption, population growth and the
inappropriate uses of technology) are unsustainable and are likely to
have profound consequences for human health. Major changes in policies
that govern society are to be sought if emerging trends in ecosystem
degradation resulting from human activities are to be arrested. Rational
changes in policy will require the availability of scientific
information appropriate to measuring global changes.
A jointly-authored 74-page "Discussion Document" is
accessible on the Web site of the World Health Organization (WHO)
European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome Division. The
document's title is "Global Ecological Integrity and 'Sustainable
Development': Cornerstones of Public Health" by Colin L. Soskolne
and Roberto Bertollini. Preface, Executive Summary, Foreword and Table
of Contents, as well as a PDF version for download, are available
directly at
this link.
The intent behind this Discussion Document is to extend the thinking
embodied in previous reports warning about the implications for both
human and other forms of life on earth should life-support systems
associated with global change be degraded. Life-support systems of
concern include fresh and ocean waters, fisheries, forests, climate,
soils, air, as well as biodiversity. Current indications suggest that
not only are certain life-support systems malfunctioning, but some are
even collapsing.
The Discussion Document
stems from a WHO (Rome Division) Workshop, December 3-4, 1998. It
presents a summary of the Workshop discussion and subsequent exchanges
of opinions among experts worldwide. The authors believe that global
change has become an issue warranting public health involvement. The
public health community needs to face the challenges presented by global
change and equip itself with the necessary scientific and technical
means to anticipate and, where possible, prevent human health
consequences arising from degrading life-support systems. The document
is neither intended to be conclusive nor to reflect a WHO position on
these matters. Rather, it is a contribution to the discussion on the
human health consequences of global change. It is provided for the
scientific community at large as a basis for future thinking and
planning in this area. Comments, suggestions and criticisms continue to
be encouraged.
Where this document differs from its predecessors is in its framing
of the issue and in its timing. The information upon which concerns are
now based draws upon more systematic data and reflects longer-term
trends. Hence, the concerns are more compelling. Furthermore, the
political climate now may have become more receptive to new priorities,
packaged differently, in order to have access to options that are
conducive to a sustainable future. The combination of these
circumstances means that the message contained in this document could
actually trigger global actions where previous efforts, whether in the
form of conference reports, books, agency reports or movies, did not.
This Discussion Document also differs from all prior reports in that
it calls upon WHO to recognize the issue of global ecological integrity
as one of its foci for future activities. It calls upon WHO to consider
placing the issue squarely onto its agenda for health in the new
millennium, working jointly with related United Nations agencies playing
their respective full and integrated roles.
A follow-up Workshop is anticipated (probably in late Spring of 2001)
to subject the content of this Discussion Document to a broader range of
critique.
The concerns raised in this Discussion Document are of great
potential consequence. They are also of an unfamiliar type and scale.
The challenge lies in communicating the message contained in this
document in a credible way to the various constituencies by which it is
intended to be taken seriously.
