Mental Health Noncommunicable Diseases
• Research & Reports
What Is Planetary Health?
Brain Health
Our environment shapes neurological function and mental well-being, while resilient brains empower societies to adapt to and mitigate planetary challenges.
1 in 4 dementia deaths worldwide, approximately 626,000 deaths each year, is attributable to air pollution.
Brain health sits at the heart of Planetary Health, reflecting the dynamic relationship between human biology, social systems, and the environments we depend on to survive and thrive. The brain, our organ of cognition, emotion, behavior, and social connection, is uniquely sensitive to environmental conditions shaped by how we steward the planet. Rising temperatures, air and water pollution, extreme weather events, food and water insecurity, ecosystem degradation, and exposure to environmental toxins all affect neurological function, cognitive performance, and mental health across the lifespan.
20-30 minutes in natural environments can significantly improve attention, working memory, and executive function, compared with urban settings.
At the same time, healthy brains enable learning, creativity, cooperation, and collective decision-making, capacities that societies need to adapt to environmental change, design sustainable systems, and respond to crises. When environmental degradation undermines brain health, it weakens individual well-being, social cohesion, productivity, and communities’ ability to respond effectively to planetary challenges. This makes brain health both a vulnerability and a leverage point within the Planetary Health framework.
Our Brain Under Environmental Stress
Scientific evidence increasingly shows that environmental stressors act on the brain through interconnected biological, psychological, and social pathways. Heat stress disrupts sleep, cognition, and mental health; air pollution accelerates cognitive decline and increases the risk of dementia and neurodevelopmental disorders; extreme weather events drive trauma, displacement, and long-lasting effects on mental and cognitive health. These risks are not evenly distributed. Children, older adults, people with pre-existing neurological or mental health conditions, and communities facing socioeconomic disadvantage bear a disproportionate burden. A Planetary Health approach therefore requires centering on equity, prevention, and resilience.
Planetary Health Solutions for Brain Health
Crucially, many Planetary Health solutions are also brain-protective solutions. Cleaner air, climate-resilient food systems, access to green and blue spaces, urban tree canopies, reduced noise and heat exposure, and stronger social infrastructure all support cognitive function, emotional well-being, and neurological health while delivering environmental co-benefits. By explicitly integrating brain health into Planetary Health research, policy, and practice, we can better capture the full human benefits of environmental action and design interventions that strengthen both people and planet.
Resources
Mental Health Youth Voices
• News
Climate Change’s Hidden Mental Toll On Children Think Global Health.
Mental Health Noncommunicable Diseases
• Research & Reports
Environmental Neuroscience Springer Nature Link.
Resource Scarcity Disaster Preparedness and Adaptation
Smart and sustainable water management: Policy, technology, and innovation pathways for resource resilience. Green Technology, Resilience, and Sustainability.
• Research & Reports
Infectious Diseases
One Health, one microbiome. Microbiome.
• Research & Reports
Governance and Policy Equity and Justice
Climate Alarm Bells Call for an End to Business as Usual. Croakey Health Media.
Experts discuss Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Plan, proposing governance models that advance Planetary Health equity through coordinated, cross-departmental climate action.
• Guides & Frameworks, Tools
Ocean / Marine Degradation Economics and Economic Systems
Nature-Based Solutions: A Policy And Investment Framework For A Healthier Planet, People, And Communities. Forbes.
Nature-based solutions use the power of ecosystems to mitigate climate change, enhance human health, and strengthen economic and community resilience. Despite their proven ability to deliver up to 37% of needed global emission reductions, they remain underfunded, highlighting the urgent need for innovative financing and stronger protection of the Earth system.
• News
Disaster Preparedness and Adaptation Technology and Innovation
The Paint Helping Keep People and Property Safe
Have you heard about the extraordinary fire resistant paint developed by Professor Yeoh and his team at the University of New South Wales in Australia? Learn more about the paint helping keep people and property safe.
• Videos
