The concept of planetary health emphasizes the interconnection between human civilization and the natural systems that support it. Cochrane plays a key role in addressing challenges brought about by human activities, which have caused significant environmental disruption and threaten our health and wellbeing.
About us
Major disruptions that already impact health around the world include climate change, pollution, biodiversity, land use, freshwater availability, and natural nutrient cycles. Cochrane's new Scientific Strategy identifies climate change and sustainability as a priority. By adopting a holistic planetary health approach, the Planetary Health Thematic Group aims to help establish the necessary evidence for informed decision-making, focusing on how governments and health systems can adapt to protect health while reducing ecological harm.
Taking a holistic planetary health perspective ensures an understanding of how various ecological threats interact. It will also reduce the likelihood of unintended consequences from focusing solutions on only a narrow set of drivers. Synthesizing the available research to identify what works, why, for whom and in what circumstances, will be vital for guiding policy and practice decisions. This is no small challenge. The body of relevant evidence in the field of planetary health – both published research and grey literature – is extensive and multidisciplinary, transcending the traditional boundaries of health research.
The Cochrane Planetary Health Thematic Group includes a network of more than 200 members, contributing to a range of projects and initiatives around the world.
Our team
- Dr Miranda Cumpston, Co-Director. Australian Living Evidence Collaboration, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia
- Dr Maria-Inti Metzendorf, Co-Director. Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Ms Denise Thomson, Co-Director. University of Alberta, Canada
Spoke Leads
- Mentoring Program: Amin Sharifan, Donau University Krems, Austria
- GRADE Planetary Health: Dr Thomas Piggott and Dr Grigoris Leontiadis, McMaster University, Canada
- Healthcare Sustainability: Dr Richard Webster, CHEO Research Institute, Canada
- Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Professor Thanya Pathirana, Griffith University, Australia
- Prioritization: Dr Seilin Uhm, University of Southampton, UK
- Traditional Medicine: Dr Susan Wieland, Georgetown University, USA
Our plans
The Planetary Health Group is a focus for efforts to synthesize evidence for decision-makers on strategies to mitigate or adapt to planetary health challenges, create innovative methods and raise standards for climate research, and improve the sustainability of health systems. Current areas of activity include:
- Methods and standards: We aim to develop, innovate and refine methodologies appropriate to complex planetary health topics, ensuring they are robust and meet Cochrane's high standards. Our team comprises researchers with a long-standing involvement in Cochrane methods groups, publication of independent methods research, and co-authorship of the Cochrane Handbook.
- Supporting review production: We work to identify priorities for synthesis and to support the production of high-priority and exemplar systematic reviews on topics pertinent to planetary health.
- Collaboration: Our mentoring programme and extensive network of members facilitate collaboration and cross-fertilization, and enable equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our work.
- Expertise: We are world-leading experts in public health, environmental health and climate change as well as evidence synthesis methodology, with connections to key research institutions around the world.
- Knowledge translation: We communicate evidence to the scientific community and decision-makers, and explore opportunities for knowledge mobilization projects. We engage end users from our various audiences in the design and dissemination of our work.
News
More information about current activities is available at the Cochrane Climate website. To receive our newsletter please email us.
Contact us
We welcome new members and news about other current activities relevant to Planetary Health. To reach out or get involved with the Cochrane Planetary Health Thematic Group, please get in touch by email.
