Abstract
Homo sapiens is currently living in serious disharmony with the rest of the natural world. For our species to survive, and for our well-being, we must gather knowledge from multiple perspectives and actively engage in studies of planetary health. The enormous diversity of species, one of the most striking aspects of life on our planet, provides a source of solutions that have been developed through evolution by natural selection by animals living in extreme environments. The food system is central to finding solutions; our current global eating patterns have a negative impact on human health, driven climate change and loss of biodiversity. We propose that the use of solutions derived from nature, an approach termed biomimetics, could mitigate the effects of a changing climate on planetary health as well as human health. For example, activation of the transcription factor Nrf2 may play a role in protecting animals living in extreme environments, or animals exposed to heat stress, pollution and pesticides. In order to meet these challenges, we call for the creation of novel interdisciplinary planetary health research teams.
Highlights
The enormous diversity of species, one of the most striking aspects of life on our planet, provides a source of solutions that have been developed through evolution by natural selection by animals living in extreme environments
We propose that the use of solutions derived from nature, an approach termed biomimetics, could mitigate the effects of a changing climate on planetary health as well as human health
Global health is rapidly being challenged by an aging population and epidemics of burden of lifestyle diseases that accumulate with age such as type-2 diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver, arteriosclerosis, depression, neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, stroke and osteoporosis [1]
Summary
Global health is rapidly being challenged by an aging population and epidemics of burden of lifestyle diseases that accumulate with age such as type-2 diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver, arteriosclerosis, depression, neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, stroke and osteoporosis [1] This rapidly growing group of chronic diseases is characterised by a low-grade chronic inflammation [2], termed inflammageing [3], mitochondrial dysfunction [4] and oxidative stress with increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [5] that accompanies the aging process (Fig. 1). Understanding the evolution of Nrf as an effective antioxidant response to various stressors in plants, animals and humans on the planet, has major implications for the ongoing epidemic of burden of lifestyle diseases associated with inflammageing and reduced mitochondrial biogenesis (Fig. 2). As positive associations between pollutants and obesity have been documented, it has been hypothesised that exposure to plastics, organic pollutants, heavy metals and pesticides causes obesity via damage to our natural weight control mechanisms [28]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
