The Influence of Environmental Issues on Health Promotion: A Historical Journey and Contemporary Challenges

Abstract

In this editorial, we address the relationship between environmental issues and health promotion, highlighting how these topics are of great global relevance. Over the past decades, understanding of the complex links between health and the environment has progressed, with solid evidence on the adverse effects of air pollution, water contamination, inadequate waste management, biodiversity loss and climate change on human health. These environmental problems can cause a variety of diseases, including respiratory, cardiovascular, cancer and neurological disorders. Despite scientific advances in the field, challenges are persistent. Air pollution and ecosystem degradation continue to affect people's quality of life, compromising the availability of essential resources such as drinking water and food. Climate change also becomes a growing threat, leading to extreme weather events and the spread of vector-borne diseases. As such, integrated and sustainable approaches that protect both human health and the environment are needed. This requires coordinated action at local, national, and global levels, involving governments, the private sector, civil society, and individuals. It reinforces the need to strengthen environmental health surveillance systems, universalize access to basic sanitation and promote environmental education to raise awareness about the importance of health and the environment. We trace the historical evolution of the relationship between health and the environment, highlighting the influence of ancient thinkers such as Hippocrates, passing through moments of greater and lesser attention to environmental issues in public health. Events such as the Stockholm Conference in 1972, Eco-92 in 1992 and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 are significant milestones in the promotion of environmental and health policies. Human health and the health of the planet are intrinsically linked, hence the need to rethink the development model and adopt effective measures to achieve global environmental goals, aiming to build a healthier, sustainable, and resilient world for present and future generations.