Scribd
Upload
19 views2 pages

Equitable Development and Health Risks

The world is at a critical juncture where current development patterns could permanently damage ecological systems or promote a healthier planet. Equitable development is being compromised by poor air quality resulting in millions of preventable deaths annually from fossil fuel pollution. Unsustainable food systems and inadequate water and sanitation facilities also contribute to millions of premature deaths each year. Ensuring equitable development requires prioritizing health, protecting nature, investing in essential services like water and education, transitioning to renewable energy, and promoting sustainable food systems.

Uploaded by

Anubhav
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views2 pages

Equitable Development and Health Risks

The world is at a critical juncture where current development patterns could permanently damage ecological systems or promote a healthier planet. Equitable development is being compromised by poor air quality resulting in millions of preventable deaths annually from fossil fuel pollution. Unsustainable food systems and inadequate water and sanitation facilities also contribute to millions of premature deaths each year. Ensuring equitable development requires prioritizing health, protecting nature, investing in essential services like water and education, transitioning to renewable energy, and promoting sustainable food systems.

Uploaded by

Anubhav
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

e world is at a pivotal moment right now; the decisions we make now can either “lock in”

development patterns that do permanent and escalating damage to the ecological systems,
or they can promote a healthier, fairer, and greener world. The need is to collectively raise
our voice and proactively respond to protect our planet, health, and future.

How is Equitable Development being Compromised?


 Poor Air Quality: Globally, over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air, resulting in
around seven million deaths every year.
o Globally, two-thirds of exposure to outdoor air pollution results from the burning of the
same fossil fuels that are driving climate change, which between 2030 and 2050 is
expected to cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually.
 Unsustainable Food Systems: Food systems that are unsafe, unhealthy and unsustainable
cause millions of premature deaths annually, primarily from Non-Communicable Diseases
(NCDs), and are a leading contributor to climate change and antimicrobial resistance – two
of the greatest health risks facing humanity.
 Inadequate Water and Sanitation Facilities: In 2020, around one in four people globally
lacked safely managed drinking water in their homes, and just 50% of health care facilities
in least-developed countries provided basic water services.
o Poor quality drinking water can lead to acute waterborne disease and risks exposure
to toxic chemicals such as arsenic.
o Inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities
makes health care less effective and has a disproportionate impact on women and
girls.
 Environmental Concerns: In total, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that
more than 13 million deaths each year are due to avoidable environmental causes – a
figure that we cannot and must not accept.
o This includes the climate crisis which is the single biggest health threat facing
humanity.
 Poverty and Unemployment: The present design of the economy leads to inequitable
distribution of income, wealth and power, with too many people still living in poverty,
unemployment and instability.
o According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s
unemployment rate reached as high as 7.9% in December 2021.

How can We Ensure Equitable and Sustainable Development?


 Prioritising Health: Prioritising equitable health now and for future generations – including
through long-term investments, well-being budgets, social protection, legal and fiscal
strategies – we can build “well-being societies” that facilitate human flourishing, and fulfil
every person’s right to health and development, without breaching ecological limits.
o The target should be to achieve a region and world in which clean air, water and food
are available to all, where economies promote physical and mental health and well-
being, where cities are liveable, and where people have control over their own health
and that of the planet.
 Protect and Preserve Nature: Policies that reduce deforestation, promote
afforestation, and end intensive and polluting agricultural practices can improve air
quality, strengthen food systems, and promote sustainable farming and forest
management.
o They reduce the risk of emerging infectious diseases, over 60% of which originate
from animals.
 Investments in Essential Services: The countries must continue to protect drinking water
supplies by implementing multi-sectoral water safety plans and including WASH in
relevant health policies, strategies and programmes, with a focus on increasing access at
the primary health care level.
o The countries must continue to build climate-resilient health facilities that not only
respond to and withstand environmental health threats, but also promote
environmentally sustainable practices.
 Investments in Education: A healthy demand for skilled workers and high-tech jobs will
offer great opportunities for India’s growth, but India can only take advantage of this
opportunity if Indians have the required knowledge and skills.
o The country has made phenomenal progress in enrolment in basic education but there
is work to be done to improve the quality of teaching and ensure students are learning
necessary skills.
 Energy Transition: While the countries are making commendable efforts to
expand renewable energy sources, increased action is needed, and must be accompanied
by rigorous enforcement of air quality standards, as well as increased investments in
public transportation infrastructure.
 Promote Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems: Diseases caused by a lack of access to
food, or consumption of unhealthy, high calorie diets, are a major contributor to NCDs.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Modifying food systems can lead to health and environmental benefits by promoting sustainable farming, reducing pollution, and improving food safety . By ending intensive agricultural practices and promoting sustainable options, we can reduce air pollution and lower the impact on climate change . Sustainable systems also decrease the risk of diseases originating from animals, as over 60% of infectious diseases come from such sources . Health-wise, reducing the prevalence of unhealthy, high-calorie diets can combat non-communicable diseases .

The primary environmental factors compromising equitable development include poor air quality, unsustainable food systems, inadequate water and sanitation facilities, and overarching environmental concerns such as the climate crisis. Over 90% of people globally breathe unhealthy air, largely due to fossil fuel combustion, causing millions of deaths annually . Unsustainable food systems contribute to climate change and antimicrobial resistance while causing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases . Inadequate water and sanitation increase the risk of waterborne diseases and disproportionately affect women and girls . Environmental causes lead to an estimated 13 million avoidable deaths annually, with the climate crisis being the biggest health threat .

To ensure equitable access to essential health services, strategies include integrating WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) into health policies, building climate-resilient health facilities, and increasing primary care access . Such facilities must withstand environmental threats and promote sustainable practices. Multi-sectoral water safety plans are crucial to safeguard drinking water supplies .

Energy transition plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development goals by enabling reductions in carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and enhancing air quality standards . Essential components include expanding renewable energy sources, enforcing air quality standards, and investing in public transportation infrastructure. Such measures collectively contribute to reducing pollution and fostering sustainability .

Investments in essential services are key to achieving equitable and sustainable development by ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and health services . This involves adopting multi-sectoral water safety plans, integrating WASH in health strategies, and building climate-resilient health facilities . Such investments enhance community resilience, promote health equity, and contribute to environmentally sustainable health practices, underpinning sustainable development goals .

The current economic design contributes to poverty and unemployment through inequitable distribution of income, wealth, and power . Addressing these issues requires restructuring the economy towards inclusivity and distributive justice. Long-term strategies must focus on equitable wealth distribution, supporting employment sectors, and ensuring economic stability to lift populations out of poverty and reduce unemployment rates .

Challenges in improving education quality include aligning educational goals with necessary skills and ensuring consistent quality teaching . Solutions involve enhancing teaching quality, investing in teacher training, and adjusting curricula to meet high-tech job demands . Focusing on skills development is essential to harness growth opportunities and support equitable development by preparing individuals to participate effectively in the economy .

Protecting and preserving natural ecosystems reduces health threats by improving air quality, bolstering food systems, and preventing the transmission of infectious diseases, many of which originate from animals . Reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable farming lower pollution levels and help in preventing conditions conducive to the emergence of zoonotic diseases, thereby safeguarding public health .

Prioritizing equitable health is crucial for sustainable development as it facilitates human flourishing and upholds the right to health and development without surpassing ecological limits . Recommended measures include long-term investments, well-being budgets, social protection, and legal and fiscal strategies aimed at building 'well-being societies' . These societies ensure access to clean air, water, and food, promoting physical and mental health and sustainability .

Inadequate water and sanitation facilities severely impact health and social development by increasing the incidence of waterborne diseases and exposure to toxic chemicals . These deficiencies make healthcare less effective and have a disproportionate impact on women and girls, limiting their opportunities for personal and community growth. Safe water access is crucial for overall health, hygiene, and societal advancement .

You might also like