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Project

Last Updated on June 1, 2021

The Synergies of Planetary Health Research InitiativeÌýintegratesÌýcritical perspectives andÌýevidence-basedÌýresearchÌýto create solutions to global environmental and social problemsÌýandÌýtoÌýmaximize synergies betweenÌýtheÌý17 UNÌýSustainable Development Goals.ÌýThe initiative isÌýaÌýtransdisciplinary collaborative partnership between researchers, practitioners,ÌýandÌýenvironmental andÌýhealth experts working on governanceÌýinterlinkages betweenÌýclimate change, biodiversity loss, and health, through a planetary health lens.Ìý

Biodiversity loss and climate changeÌýareÌýtwo majorÌýthreats at planetary level, withÌýpervasiveÌýimpacts for nature and people.ÌýHuman-induced degradation of ecosystems weakens adaptive capacity to climateÌýchangeÌýandÌýthreatensÌýhumanÌýhealth andÌýwell-being, through multiple factorsÌýincludingÌýfood security,Ìýclean water, and clean air.ÌýTheÌýCOVID-19 pandemicÌýhas been a stark reminder ofÌýwhat was known but poorly acknowledged:ÌýthatÌýsocial, political, economic, environmental, and health systems are interlinkedÌýand inextricably depend on natural systems. Moreover, inequalities exacerbate vulnerabilities to environmental,Ìýeconomic, and socialÌýstressors.ÌýAs theÌýhuman footprint is pushing planetary boundariesÌýtoward tipping points, theÌýpresent decadeÌýholds a unique opportunityÌýtoÌýbolsterÌýtransformative change towardÌýglobalÌýsustainability, resilience, and equityÌýgoalsÌýby 2030.ÌýInnovative research is necessaryÌýtoÌýidentify gaps and imbalances,ÌýidentifyÌýunderemphasizedÌýareas of action,Ìýand develop new methodologies to assess progressÌýin order toÌýaccelerateÌýaction.Ìý

Our teamÌýproduces novel researchÌýin order to:Ìý

• maximizeÌýsynergies across multiple action areasÌýon climate, biodiversity, and adaptation to health impacts of environmental change,Ìýthrough the engagement of multiple actorsÌýtowardÌýthe achievement of theÌýUNÌýSustainable Development GoalsÌý
• develop critical perspectives based onÌýempiricalÌýevidenceÌýandÌýsound researchÌýto inform transformationalÌýchange inÌýaÌýnew decade.ÌýWeÌýactively workÌýonÌýstrengthening local,Ìýnon-state, and subnationalÌýactor engagement atÌýmultiple levels of governance to address global challengesÌýon four tracks:Ìý
  • nature-based solutions and sustainable development synergiesÌý
  • adaptation to slow onset health impacts of climate changeÌý
  • effective, equitable, and integrated:ÌýnewÌýcritical problem-solvingÌýmethodologies to achieveÌýhealth, environmental, and social goalsÌý
  • newÌýintegrativeÌýmethodologies andÌýstudent and postdoctoral researcher trainingÌý
• Provide expert supportÌýthrough global engagementÌýand knowledge mobilization atÌý,,, andÌý.ÌýÌý
• Support early-career researchers,Ìýby providingÌýdoctoral and postdoctoral researchers training opportunities throughÌýour projects.ÌýWe also welcomeÌýearly-career facultyÌýengagement and partnerships.ÌýÌý
• Create opportunities for undergraduate student engagementÌýin research projects to promote experiential education and learning through participation in team projects.Ìý

Team

Founder and Principal Investigator

Idil Boran

Associate Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Member and Principal Investigator of the Synergies of Planetary Health Research Initiative and Lab, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ. Non-resident Associate Researcher, German Development Institute /DeutschesÌýInstitutÌý´Úü°ùÌýEntwicklungspolitik (DIE)Ìý

Co-Principal InvestigatorÌýand International PartnerÌý

Sander Chan

Senior ResearcherÌýAssociate Researcher, German Development Institute /DeutschesÌýInstitutÌý´Úü°ù Entwicklungspolitik (DIE).ÌýAdjunct Assistant Professor, Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development, University of Utrecht.

Team Members

Andrew Deneault, Researcher,ÌýGerman Development Institute /ÌýDeutsches Institut ´Úü°ù Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Byomkesh Talukder,ÌýResearch Fellow, DahdalehÌýInstitute for Global Health ResearchÌý

Ina Lehmann, Researcher, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut ´Úü°ù Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Jean Carlo Rodrígues de Francisco, Senior Researcher, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut ´Úü°ù Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Mariya Aleksandrova, Senior Researcher, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut ´Úü°ù Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Miriam Garcia, Doctoral Candidate, Institute for International Relations, University of São Paulo, BrazilÌý

Pablo Imbach, Principal Researcher Modeling, Global Center on Adaptation

Advisors

JamesÌýOrbinski, Director, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research

Mary Wiktorowicz, Professor, School of Health Policy and Management; Associate Director, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research

Alums

Megan Whitney, Research Assistant, PhD Program in Geography, EUC, ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵÌý

Rebecca Babcock, Research Assistant, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research

Global Engagement

Nature-based Solutions: Five opportunities to strengthen nature-based climate adaptation for people, land and oceans

Statement to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity for International Day for Biological Diversity 2020

Nature-based solutions: Catalyzing action for biodiversity, climate, and health

Our Goals

1. Expand and strengthen climate action by nonstate and local actors and build linkages between actions for biodiversity, climate change, human and ecosystems health, and sustainable development
2. Develop conceptual tools to address imbalances and inequities and promoting just transformations
3. Narrow knowledge gaps regarding non-state and local actor engagement on biodiversity and climate actions, including actions with high potential for large scale adaptation to health impacts of climate change
4. Maximize synergies across health, water and food safety, sustainable land use and nature-based solutions, sustainable urban centres and communities, biodiversity targets, in harmony with the full range of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Background

This project is a collaboration between researchers at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research; York, University;ÌýGerman Development Institute / Deutsches Institut ´Úü°ù Entwicklungspolitik (DIE);ÌýGlobal Center on Adaptation; Climate Cooperative Initiatives Database (C-CID); and the Institute for International Relations at the University of São Paulo.

Find out more about the project in the 2020 Annual Report.Ìý

Publications

Boran, I. (2019). Abington: Routledge.

Chan, S., Boran, I., van Asselt, H., Iacobuta, G., Niles, N., Rietig, K., ... Wambugu, G. (2019). WIREs Climate Change, e572.

Boran, I & Chan, S. (2019). , Current Column of the German Development Institute (24 June, 2019)

Van Asselt, H., Chan, S, Boran, I.,ÌýHale, T.,ÌýHermwille, L., Roger, C. (2020). Realizing theÌýpromise of Paris: ThreeÌýways ofÌýstrengtheningÌýnon-state andÌýsubnationalÌýclimate action.ÌýÌý(December 11, 2020)ÌýÌý

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