The biodiversity nexus: health

Needless to say, health is the ultimate cornerstone of human life. However, it is only one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. Central to this aspiration lies the attempt to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and equitable access to quality health care. The principle of leaving no one behind underscores the pivotal role of universal health coverage, anchoring it at the heart of SDG 3 and linking it intricately with other SDG objectives.

According to the World Health Organization, achieving SDG 3 will depend on progress in other SDGs – e.g., poverty reduction; education; nutrition; gender equality; clean water and sanitation, sustainable energy, and safer cities.

Health through a “One Health” lense

In contemplating health within the context of the biodiversity nexus, the “One Health” perspective offers invaluable insights. One Health has been defined as: “an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.” The definition has been given by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel which advises United Nations Organizations.

The role of the healthcare sector

The healthcare sector, a pivotal player in the pursuit of SDGs, wields considerable influence. Health challenges stemming from environmental pressures escalate alarmingly, emphasizing the sector's significance. The healthcare sector to a large extent has its own SDGs; renewable energy use, medical waste and over-use of antibiotics, and incorporating the natural environment in healthcare. Moreover, the healthcare sector assumes an advocacy mantle, championing sustainable quality of life and thwarting challenges linked to planetary health.

In sum, the pursuit of comprehensive well-being unfolds through a tapestry of interconnected objectives. Universal health coverage intertwines with holistic development, as "One Health" principles and healthcare sectors converge to safeguard humanity's health and the ecosystems we depend upon.