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The risk of pandemics could be linked to our treatment of the planet
The study by the University of the West of England and the University of Exeter's Greenpeace Research Laboratories presents the hypothesis that disease risks are "ultimately linked to biodiversity and natural processes such as the water cycle." Environmental degradation can make pandemics more likely and less manageable, new research shows. Using a framework for analyzing and communicating complex relationships between society and the environment, the study concludes that maintaining intact and fully functioning ecosystems and the associated environmental and health benefits is key to preventing the emergence of new pandemics. Loss of benefits due to deterioration...
The risk of pandemics could be linked to our treatment of the planet
The study by the University of the West of England and the University of Exeter's Greenpeace Research Laboratories presents the hypothesis that disease risks are "ultimately linked to biodiversity and natural processes such as the water cycle."
Environmental degradation can make pandemics more likely and less manageable, new research shows
Using a framework for analyzing and communicating complex relationships between society and the environment, the study concludes that maintaining intact and fully functioning ecosystems and the associated environmental and health benefits is key to preventing the emergence of new pandemics.
Loss of benefits due to ecosystem degradation
Loss of these benefits through ecosystem degradation – including deforestation, land use change and agricultural intensification – further exacerbates the problem by undermining water and other resources essential to reducing disease transmission and mitigating the impact of emerging infectious diseases.
The main author Dr. Mark Everard from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) said: “Ecosystems naturally inhibit the transmission of disease from animals to people, but this service declines as ecosystems are degraded.
“At the same time, ecosystem degradation undermines water security and limits the availability of sufficient water for good hand hygiene, sanitation and disease management.
“The risk of disease cannot be separated from the preservation of the ecosystem and the security of natural resources.”
Dr. David Santillo from Greenpeace Research Laboratories in Exeter added: “The speed and scale with which radical action has been taken in so many countries to limit the health and financial risks of COVID-19 shows that radical systemic changes would also be possible to deal with other global existential threats such as the climate emergency and biological collapse diversity, provided there is the political will to do so. “
Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
The researchers say the lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic is that societies worldwide need to “build back better,” including protecting and restoring damaged ecosystems (in line with the goals of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030), while keeping the many values of nature and human rights at the forefront of environmental and economic policy Decision making.