Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Sustainability Science pp 247–260Cite as

Sustainability and Health

  • Chapter

  • 132k Accesses

Abstract

Achieving good health should be an integral part of the current discussions about sustainable development. It is increasingly recognized that health research (and policy) requires a systems approach and the past decades have witnessed an emerging recognition of the multidimensional and multilevel causation of population health. An ever growing number of health researchers argue that the health of a population can – or must – be viewed within the broader system of health determinants. Consequently, in our effort to assess the health impacts of global (environmental) change, we have to be aware of the limitations of the traditional reductionist approach.

Stressing the need for a system-based approach toward health, this chapter discusses and illustrates a conceptual model describing the broader context and multi-causality of our health. We apply this framework to a widely discussed health impact of climate change, namely, the emergence of malaria in the African highlands. This clearly demonstrates that malaria in East Africa’s highlands presents an interesting case study for understanding the importance of the system’s interactions between climate and non-climate factors in shaping human vulnerability to the adverse health impacts of global warming. Climate change is believed to primarily affect the intrinsic malaria transmission potential, but this relationship interacts with other factors and developments that affect disease dynamics as well.

However, trying to conceptually describe the system involved is only one of the first steps in applying a system-based approach toward health. Hence, we briefly elaborate on some example tools from the sustainability science toolkit (modeling, scenario analyses, and participatory methods) that are available and conceivable in order to advance further systems research in the field of health and sustainable development. The chapter concludes with a discussion of possible barriers to adopting a sustainability science approach toward health, in an effort to explain the slow progress made so far.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Further Reading

Websites

References

  • Albrecht G, Freeman S, Higginbothman N (1998) Complexity and human health: the case for a transdisciplinary paradigm. Cult Med Psychiatry 22:55–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Artzy-Randrup Y, Alonso D, Pascual M (2010) Transmission intensity and drug resistance in malaria population dynamics: implications for climate change. PLoS One 5, e13588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arya N et al (2009) Time for an ecosystem approach to public health? Lessons from two infectious disease outbreaks in Canada. Glob Public Health 4:31–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brundtland GH (ed) (1987) Our common future: The World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Brundtland GH (2002) World summit on sustainable development: importance of health in economic development makes it a priority. BMJ 325:399–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canfalonieri U, McMichael AJ (eds) (2006) Global environmental change and human health: science plan and implementation strategy. Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP report no. 4)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaves L, Koenraadt C (2010) Climate change and highland malaria: fresh air for a hot debate. Q Rev Biol 85:27–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen M (2000) Changing patterns of infectious disease. Nature 406(6797):762–767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J et al (2012) Malaria resurgence: a systematic review and assessment of its causes. Malar J 11:122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colwell RR (2004) Biocomplexity and a new public health domain. Ecohealth 1:6–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costello A et al (2009) Managing the health effects of climate change. Lancet 373:1693–1733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Savigny D, Adam T (2009) Systems thinking for health systems strengthening. Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Funtowicz SO, Ravetz JR (1993) Science for the post-normal age. Futures 25:735–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Funtowicz SO, Ravetz JR (1994) Uncertainty, complexity and post-normal science. Environ Toxicol Chem 13:1881–1885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galea S, Riddle M, Kaplan G (2010) Causal thinking and complex system approaches in epidemiology. Int J Epidemiol 39:97–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons M et al (1994) The new production of knowledge: the dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies. Sage, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Himeidan Y, Kweka E (2012) Malaria in East African highlands during the past 30 years: impact of environmental changes. Front Physiol 3:315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huynen MMTE (2008) Future health in a globalising world. Universitaire Pers Maastricht, Maastricht

    Google Scholar 

  • Huynen MMTE, Martens P, Hilderink HBM (2005) The health impacts of globalisation: a conceptual framework. Global Health 1: article number 14 (12 pages)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huynen M, Martens P, Akin S (2013) Climate change: an amplifier of existing health risks in developing countries. Environ Dev Sustain 15(6):1425–1442. doi:10.1007/s10668-013-9450-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; Working Group II contribution to the IPCC fifth assessment report. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kates R et al (2001) Sustainability science. Science 292:641–642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kebede A, McCann J, Ye-Ebiyo Y (2005) New evidence of the effects of agro-ecological change on malaria transmission. Am J Trop Med Hyg 73:676–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladd BD, Soskolne CL (2008) A toolkit for ecoepidemiological enquiry under global ecological change. In: Soskolne CL et al (eds) Sustaining life on earth: environmental and human health through global governance. Lexington Books, Lanham

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang D et al (2012) Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice, principles, and challenges. Sustain Sci 7(1):25–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leishow S, Milstein B (2006) Systems thinking and modeling for public health practice. Am J Public Health 96(3):403–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay S, Martens W (1998) Malaria in the African highlands: past, present and future. Bull World Health Organ 76:33–45

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martens W (1998) Health impacts of climate change and ozone depletion: an ecoepidemiologic modeling approach. Environ Health Perspect 106(Suppl 1):241–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martens P (2006) Sustainability: science or fiction. Sustain Sci Pract Policy 2:36–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Martens P, Huynen MMTE (2003) A future without health? Health dimension in global scenario studies. Bull World Health Organ 81:896–901

    Google Scholar 

  • Martens P et al (1999) Climate change and future populations at risk of malaria. Glob Environ Chang 9:S89–S107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martens P et al (2011) Globalisation and human health: complexity, links and research gaps. IHDP Update 1:5–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow AH (1954) Motivation and personality. Harper & Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow AH (1968) Toward a psychology of being. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Max-Neef MA (1991) Human scale development: conception, application and further reflections. The Apex Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaren L, Hawe P (2005) Ecological perspectives in health research. J Epidemiol Community Health 59:6–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ (1995) The health of persons, populations and planets: epidemiology comes full circle. Epidemiology 6:633–636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ (1999) Prisoners of the proximate: loosening the constraints on epidemiology in an age of change. Am J Epidemiol 10:887–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ (2003) Global climate change: will it affect vector-borne infectious diseases? Intern Med J 33:554–555

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ (2004) Environmental and social influences on emerging infectious diseases: past, present and future. Philos Trans R Soc 359(1447):1049–1058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ (2005) Detecting the health effects of environmental change: scientific and political challenge. Ecohealth 2:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ (2006) Population health as a primary criterion of sustainability. Ecohealth 3:182–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ, Smith KR, Corvalan CF (2000) The sustainability transition: a new challenge. Bull World Health Organ 78:1067

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMichael C, Barnett J, McMichael A (2012) An ill wind? Climate change, migration, and health. Environ Health Perspect 120:646–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendez D (2010) A systems approach to a complex problem. Am J Public Health 100(7):1160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris G (2010) Ecological public health and climate change policy. Perspect Public Health 130:34–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse S (1995) Factors in the emergence of infectious diseases. Emerg Infect Dis 1(1):7–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce N (2004) The globalization of epidemiology: introductory remarks. Int J Epidemiol 33:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce N, Merletti F (2006) Complexity, simplicity, and epidemiology. Int J Epidemiol 35:515–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philippe P, Mansi O (1998) Nonlinearity in the epidemiology of complex health and disease processes. Theor Med Bioeth 19:591–607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pigott D et al (2012) Funding for malaria control 2006–2010: a comprehensive global assessment. Malar J 11:246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravetz J (1999) What is post-normal science. Futures 31:647–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricci F (2012) Social implications of malaria and their relationships with poverty. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 4, e2012048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soskolne C, Broemling N (2002) Eco-epidemiology: on the need to measure health effects from global change. Glob Change Human Health 3(1):58–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soskolne C et al (2007) Toward a global agenda for research in environmental epidemiology. Epidemiol Soc 18(1):162–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soskolne C et al (2009) Eco-epidemiological enquiry under global ecological change: an integrated assessment toolkit for beginners. Eur J Oncol

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreenivasan G, Benatar S (2006) Challenges for global health in the 21st century: some upstream considerations. Theor Med Bioeth 27:3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterman J (2006) Learning from evidence in a complex world. Am J Public Health 96(3):505–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern D et al (2011) Temperature and malaria trends in Highland East Africa. PLoS One 6, e24524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Susser M, Susser E (1996) Choosing a future for epidemiology: II. From black box to Chinese boxes and eco-epidemiology. Am J Public Health 86:674–677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherst R (2004) Global change and human vulnerability to vector-borne diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev 17(1):136–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swart RJ, Raskin P, Robinson J (2004) The problem of the future: sustainability science and scenario analysis. Glob Environ Chang 14:137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesi M (2011) Global warming and health: the issue of malaria in Eastern Africa’s highlands. Africa initiative discussion papers no. 2- Aug 2011. Africa Initiative and The Centre for International Governance Innovation

    Google Scholar 

  • Trochim W et al (2006) Practical challenges of systems thinking and modeling in public health. Am J Public Health 96(3):538–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2002) Global environment outlook 3: past, present and future perspectives. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2007) IEA training manual. Module 6: scenario development and analysis. United Nations Environmental Programme, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Asselt MBA, Rijkens-Klomp N (2002) A look in the mirror: reflection on participation in Integrated Assessment from a methodological perspective. Glob Environ Chang 12:167–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2001) Macroeconomics and health: investing in health for economic development. World Health Organization, Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox B, Colwell R (2005) Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases: biocomplexity as an interdisciplinary paradigm. Ecohealth 2:244–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye-Ebiyo Y, Pollcak R, Spielman A (2000) Enhanced development in nature of larval Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes feeding on maize pollen. Am J Trop Med Hyg 63:90–93

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Integrated assessment & Sustainable development (ICIS), Maastricht University, 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Maud M. T. E. Huynen

  2. Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Pim Martens

Authors
  1. Maud M. T. E. Huynen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pim Martens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maud M. T. E. Huynen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sustainability Governance (INSUGO), Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany

    Harald Heinrichs

  2. Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Pim Martens

  3. Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany

    Gerd Michelsen

  4. School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

    Arnim Wiek

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Huynen, M.M.T.E., Martens, P. (2016). Sustainability and Health. In: Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G., Wiek, A. (eds) Sustainability Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7242-6_20

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation