![]() ![]() Systemic change is hard to achieve without imagination, trust and conviction. In our current system, many of the actions we need to take to avert the worst effects of the climate and biodiversity emergencies are expensive, run counter to the current economic drivers of accelerating consumption, and challenge long-ingrained cultural norms. We jump at the chance of promises of quick technological fixes, but are reluctant to make the changes to our shopping habits, transport, buildings and industries that are needed to flatten the curve of greenhouse gas emissions and species extinctions. We are excruciatingly slow to act on both. The parallels between personal and planetary health systems are striking. ![]() We know a healthy lifestyle will be beneficial for both ourselves and the planet, and the science supports it, yet we are in an obesity epidemic, nearly two-thirds of people over 65 have two or more chronic diseases, and we are degrading the planet’s life-support systems at a dizzying speed. Another article, in PLOS Medicine, explained these actions would also substantially reduce our environmental impact through a reduced need for pharmaceutical drug production and pollution, reductions in energy intensive hospital stays, and lower impact agriculture through adoption of a plant-based or Mediterranean-like diet. A recent study in the British Medical Journal showed that both men and women could extend their life expectancy free of diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease by 10 years by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising every day, moderating alcohol intake and eating a healthy diet. Imagine if there was a pill you could take that would extend your healthy, active life span by 10 years, with the side effects of reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. ![]()
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