Geosciences and the Living Environment in a Changing World

Environmental change on the Earth is as old as the planet itself. However, in the mid twentieth century, our planet entered into a distinct new stage with no precedent in its long history, which some have identified as the Anthropocene. Evidence is mounting that life as we have experienced it for the last ten millennia is changing very fast. The future of our civilization depends on human health, flourishing natural systems, and the wise stewardship of natural resources. With natural systems being degraded to an extent not seen before in human history, both our health and that of our planet, are in peril. Well-known impacts of human behaviour are shifting the pattern of diseases and the compromised availability of food, water and sanitation conditions. Moreover, changes in the river basins and coastal environments are affecting the safety of human survival worldwide.

Human health and the health of our planet are inextricably related. This Research Topic welcomes new multidisciplinary papers concerning Planetary Health, including the following topics associated with environmental changes:

• Evaluation of land degradation and restoration strategies;
• Sedimentary records of the Human interference on environmental conditions;
• Novel approaches regarding the study of geochemical and environmental agents focused on their sources and impacts on atmospheric, aquatic and soil environments;
• Health studies in medical geology, including beneficial aspects of geological materials;
• Linking biota to Earth’s health (ecosystems, biodiversity, bioremediation);
• Risk assessment; and
• Resources management and promising applications of geological materials to promote Earth's health.