Healthier Planet, Healthier People

Five small steps toward better health for you and planet Earth

By Wynne Armand, MD – Contributor

Everything is connected. You’ve probably heard that before — but it’s worth repeating. Below are five ways to boost your personal health and the health of the planet — a concept known as co-benefits among environmental scientists.

How your health and the planet’s health intersect

Back in 1970, Earth Day was launched to raise awareness of environmental issues. Today, environmental awareness feels more urgent than ever. The impacts of climate change — fires, storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, rising sea levels, species extinction — all pose serious risks to human health, especially for vulnerable populations.

For instance, air pollution from fossil fuels and wildfires contributes to lung disease and hospitalizations. As global temperatures rise, the ranges of disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes expand.

The concept of planetary health emphasizes that our well-being is deeply tied to the health of ecosystems. Individual actions may seem small, but collectively they can make a difference — even if it’s slow and incremental.

5 steps to support both personal and planetary health

1. Shift toward plant-forward eating

This means increasing your intake of plant-based foods and cutting down on meat. Doing so reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and many cancers. Environmentally, plant-based meals tend to use less land and water and emit fewer greenhouse gases compared to meat-based meals.

2. Not all plants are equal

Plant foods vary in both nutrition and environmental impact. Reading nutrition labels helps you choose healthier options. Understanding environmental effects is trickier, but resources like Our World in Data offer great visual guides to the environmental costs of common foods.

3. Choose active transportation

Instead of driving, opt to walk, bike, or take public transportation when possible. Adults should aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise and two sessions of strength training. Regular movement improves mental health, bone strength, and reduces the risk of falls and chronic disease. Fewer car trips also mean less pollution and lower carbon emissions.

4. Start where you are — and stretch a little

Your comfort zone matters. Start small: try one vegan meal per week, or limit beef to once a week. Maybe bus instead of driving — or bike to work in nicer weather. Make goals that challenge you, but also feel achievable.

5. Talk about it

Individual action can feel small and lonely — but sharing your goals and values can build connection. And connection strengthens community and resilience.

If you tell one person, and they tell someone else, your impact multiplies. You never know — maybe that next person helps decide school lunch menus or designs your city’s next bike lane.

source: Harvard Health Publishing

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