Planetary Health Update

11 Nov

We can only put in some examples of what is going well and not! What topics would you like to hear about?

What is going well in the biosphere

Planetary health is growing as a field: There is a stronger recognition that human health cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems. The emerging planetary health paradigm underscores that air quality, clean water, food systems, biodiversity, and climate stability are direct determinants of human well-being. Medical schools, public health organisations, and governments are increasingly adopting this lens, making it harder to ignore ecological degradation as a “separate” issue [1].
Better monitoring tools: Advances in satellite remote sensing, drone technology, and artificial intelligence have significantly expanded our ability to track environmental changes. Forest cover loss, ocean heat waves, shifts in biodiversity, and even soil carbon levels can now be observed almost in real time. This increases our ability to respond quickly, predict risks (such as coral bleaching events), and build a more dynamic picture of Earth’s life-support systems [2].
Global biodiversity commitments: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), finalised in late 2022, set a clear global target: protecting 30% of land and sea areas by 2030. More than 190 countries have adopted this “30x30” goal. While implementation remains uneven, the framework provides a global benchmark for activists, scientists, and communities to hold governments accountable [3].

Signs of ecological recovery: Australia’s annual environment report showed four consecutive years of above-average conditions following the devastating Black Summer bushfires and earlier droughts. Vegetation growth has partially recovered in some regions, river flows are higher than in the drought years, and specific habitats are regenerating. However, experts caution this is a reprieve due to climate variability, not a reversal of long-term decline [4].
National biodiversity plan: The federal government’s Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024–2030 aims to embed biodiversity care into land management, agriculture, planning, and conservation. It represents an attempt to set national goals for conservation, community stewardship, and ecological restoration, aligning with international biodiversity commitments [5].
Species comeback stories: The brush-tailed bettong (woylie), a small kangaroo-like marsupial once extinct on the Australian mainland, has been reintroduced in protected areas of Western Australia. As an “ecosystem engineer,” its digging and foraging help maintain soil health and facilitating seed dispersal, demonstrating how species recovery can have ripple effects across ecosystems [6].

Seven planetary boundaries breached: The latest Planetary Health Check confirmed that seven out of nine critical Earth system thresholds — including climate change, biosphere integrity, freshwater, land use, chemical pollution, and nutrient flows — have been exceeded. These boundaries define the “safe operating space” for humanity. Crossing them increases the risk of destabilising Earth’s systems beyond repair [7].
Oceans crossing acidity threshold: The Guardian reported in September, 2025, that ocean acidity has passed a critical limit. Acidification dissolves the calcium carbonate structures of corals, shellfish, and plankton. These organisms form the foundation of marine food webs, so their decline risks a cascading collapse in ocean ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal protection [8]. This is in addition to the impact of the extraordinary levels of heat occurring in the oceans.
Environmental polycrisis: Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and land-use change are no longer isolated crises. They interact and amplify each other, creating systemic risks. For example, rising temperatures drive droughts that worsen biodiversity decline, while degraded ecosystems are less able to buffer climate extremes. Policymakers increasingly use the term “polycrisis” to describe this interlinked web of risks [9].

Fragile ecosystems remain at risk: Even with four years of relative recovery, Australia remains acutely vulnerable. The Great Barrier Reef continues to suffer mass bleaching events, native species remain in decline, and land clearing undermines biodiversity. Temporary improvements cannot hide the structural pressures of climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species [4].
Koala habitat destruction: Nearly two million hectares of koala habitat in New South Wales and Queensland have been cleared since 2011, much of it for agriculture and development. This scale of loss undermines conservation efforts and contradicts political promises to protect the species, raising fears of local extinctions [10].
Food system flaws: A recent report highlighted that Australia’s $800 billion food system is environmentally damaging, nutritionally poor, and socially unequal. Agricultural practices contribute heavily to emissions, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss, while diets are increasingly dominated by ultra-processed foods that harm health. This underscores the need for systemic food reform [11].
Stalled legal reform: Australia’s primary environmental law, the EPBC Act, has long been criticised for failing to stop biodiversity decline. A major review recommended stronger protections and enforcement. However, proposed reforms have been watered down, with the government abandoning the “nature positive” agenda, leaving environmental governance weak [12].

References

Johns Hopkins University. Connecting planetary boundaries & planetary health [Internet]. 2025 Jul 15 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Decoding Biosphere. Current perspectives on biosphere research 2024–2025 [Internet]. 2025 Jul 14 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water. Australia’s strategy for nature — biodiversity conservation [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Australian National University. Australia’s environment shows signs of improvement, but ecosystems remain under threat [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water. Australia’s strategy for nature 2024–2030 [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
People Magazine. Small kangaroo-like marsupial brought back from brink of extinction [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Planetary Health Check. Executive summary 2025 [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
The Guardian. World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses threshold [Internet]. 2025 Sep 24 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Australian Parliamentary Library. Climate and biodiversity crises [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
The Guardian. Nearly 2m hectares of koala habitat bulldozed since 2011 [Internet]. 2025 Apr 12 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
News.com.au. New report reveals flaws in Australia’s $800bn food system [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 28].
Monash Lens. Why dropping ‘nature positive’ risks undermining environmental reform [Internet]. 2025 May 26 [cited 2025 Oct 28].