Social Justice as a Determinant for Planetary Health Under Climate Crisis

The emergence of evidence on the climate crisis reveals the interaction between natural systems and human populations, underscoring the importance of social justice for planetary health. To attain optimal planetary health, it is imperative to highlight social justice as a determinant factor for health at local and global levels. Global experiences from the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century demonstrate that social justice problems are among the major contributors to planetary health challenges. Despite evident disparities and major injustices, the concept of social justice was minimally incorporated into policy discussions and proposed solutions. Remnants of Eurocentric colonial policies, a neoliberal global economic framework, and a major power imbalance between the Global North and South continue to exacerbate planetary health problems. A new paradigm emphasizing social justice for planetary health is needed.

Health is a fundamental human right and cannot stand alone without a peaceful, prosperous global society, sustainable planetary balance, and equitable decision-making power shared by all. Social justice aims for fair treatment and equitable status for all, including resources, wealth, and power distribution. Although the United Nations recognizes social justice as an underlying principle of peaceful and prosperous coexistence, multilateral policies or goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals minimally incorporate social justice. Planetary health, however, encompasses the well-being of human populations and the condition of the supporting systems.

Such paradigm change should begin by adopting a more intuitive approach to acknowledge social justice as an umbrella concept covering environmental, ecological, climate justice, and beyond. We should expand our arguments by incorporating planetary systems, such as ecosystems, natural and built environments, social and financial systems, healthcare, and cultures. This would facilitate the better integration of social justice into planetary health and support sustainable solutions for the climate crisis and other existential challenges. The new paradigm would promote fundamental progressive global transformation, new economic and social policies, globally inclusive science and technology interventions, and diverse universal values to discuss planetary health problems beyond the anthropocentric perspective.

This Research Topic invites manuscripts that challenge the status quo and propose a framework for a new social justice-focused paradigm for planetary health. Manuscripts should discuss frameworks and proposals for a global transformation to develop economic and social policies and implement diverse and inclusive science and technology interventions. These contributions aim to produce sustainable solutions for the climate crisis and other existential planetary health challenges.

Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:

• Intersections of social justice and climate justice.

• One health approaches with a social justice lens.

• Socio-economic determinants of health under climate crisis.

• Health disparities exacerbated by climate change.

• Influence of colonial legacies on planetary health and global health inequities.

• Neoliberal economic frameworks affecting planetary health and increasing health inequality.

• Global North and South power dynamics.

• Community-led sustainable solutions.

• Policy recommendations for inclusive planetary health.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: social justice, planetary health, climate crisis, population, equity, health disparities, one health, public health, community

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.