4.D. Skills building seminar: From planetary to local health: Translating a planetary health systems approach to the local level

Abstract In the last decade, National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) have increasingly recognised climate change as a major determinant of health and as a threat multiplier, leading to increases in morbidity and mortality, including exacerbating existing health conditions and adversely affecting social and environmental determinants of health. Through research and monitoring of health risks and impacts of climate change and climate action, promoting healthy climate resilient environments and lifestyles, and strengthening preparedness and response to climate hazards such as extreme heat, floods and wildfires, NPHIs have made significant progress in establishing themselves as key actors in this field. Building on this work and more established knowledge on environmental health risks and impacts, NPHIs are recognising the importance of a systems approach to tackling the complex and interconnected triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and global environmental pollution. A planetary health systems approach is now being explored in recognition that deep and rapid transformation is required to protect and promote the health of current and future generations. The workshop will begin with an overarching presentation on planetary health to provide perspective and theoretical grounding for public health actors. We will discuss the challenges of addressing complex global issues and stress the importance of adopting a holistic, systems-based approach to tackling these interconnected problems. The need for transformative change to ensure collective well-being and health will be emphasised, along with the importance of social and ecological justice. This will be followed by an example of how we can use a planetary health systems approach in practice. We will present initial thinking of a Planetary Health Lens for the Place Standard Tool, which is intended to be used to translate NPHIs’ knowledge into practice at a local and community level. This work will be progressed in collaboration with the Public Health Scotland Place and Health in All Policies Team and potentially the new WHO Collaborating Centre for Place. The Place Standard Tool has already proved invaluable for understanding the interconnectedness of systems, and a Planetary Health Lens will provide an extra dimension fit for the multiple crises that we face. The objectives of the workshop are to increase understanding and discuss the importance of a planetary health systems approach to multiple complex challenges to public health, and how we can translate this approach to serve our local communities. The majority of the workshop session will be interactive and will be used to review and inform initial thinking around a Planetary Health Lens for the Place Standard Tool. Delegates will be encouraged to give input and feedback, which will be used to inform the next version of the tool. They will leave the session more knowledgeable and empowered to implement a planetary health systems approach. Key messages • Participants will gain an understanding of why planetary health system transformation is necessary for ensuring healthy local communities and how NPHIs can take a leading role in promoting this. • The workshop will enable participants to translate the theory of transformative systems approaches into action to support working at a local level with a place-based planetary health approach.