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.
Education Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)
Nature-Based Health Promotion
This podcast episode of the Planetary Health Now podcast explores nature-based health promotion with Dr. Annika Kolster, highlighting the health benefits of time in nature. It supports the upcoming Planetary Health Course hosted by Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
• Podcasts
Chemical Pollution Food Systems
Rice, two curries and dal: The Indian cafes where you can pay in rubbish. BBC.
• News
Mental Health Nutritional Diseases
The Interplay Between Mindful Eating, Climate Change Awareness, and Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Food Science & Nutrition.
Researchers explore the links between mindful eating, Mediterranean diet adherence, climate change awareness, and psychological well-being. Findings show mindful eating and awareness improve well-being, while Mediterranean diet adherence unexpectedly predicts lower well-being, underscoring complex interactions between sustainability, diet, and mental health.
• Research & Reports
Education Planetary Health Frameworks
Becoming an Agent of Change for Planetary Health. University of Helsinki.
This panel, recorded at the University of Helsinki, explores how individuals can become agents of change. Featuring experts in medicine, politics, and eco-emotions, it contributes to the upcoming PlanetaryHealth.now Massive Online Open Course.
• Videos
Noncommunicable Diseases Air Pollution
Air pollution and health in Rwandan and Kenyan schools cooking with polluting fuels: A cross-sectional impact study. Environmental Research.
Research in Rwandan and Kenyan schools found dangerously high PM2.5 and CO from biomass cooking, with learners and staff reporting frequent headaches, cough, and eye irritation—showing the urgent need for clean energy.
• Research & Reports
