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Planetary Health

Planetary Health is a systems approach that recognizes a simple reality: human well-being depends on the stability of Earth’s natural systems. When climate, ecosystems, and resources are destabilized, the consequences show up in public health, economic resilience, and social equity.

At McMaster, Planetary Health frames research and action around solutions that are evidence-based, implementable, and scalable.

Why it matters now?

Today’s sustainability challenges are systemic:

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Climate Change

Climate change is accelerating risk across health, infrastructure, and economies.

Resource Depletion

Resource depletion is reshaping how societies produce, consume, and grow.

Ecosystem Degradation

Ecosystem degradation undermines resilience and amplifies hazards.

Equity Gaps

Equity gaps determine who bears impacts and who benefits from solutions.

Planetary Health in McMaster’s strategy

Planetary Health is a central pillar of McMaster’s Brighter World Campaign, bringing together expertise from diverse fields to develop solutions that protect ecological integrity while strengthening human well-being and social outcomes.

How McMaster advances Planetary Health

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Research & Innovation Learn more

Generate interdisciplinary knowledge and tools that inform decisions in climate, health, sustainability, and equity.

Translate evidence into solutions that can be deployed at scale—technologies, practices, policies, and systems.

Leadership & Policy Learn more

Equip decision-makers with the partnerships, insights, and capacity needed to overcome barriers and accelerate change.

Principles

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Systems thinking

Interconnected problems and integrated solutions

Actionability

Designed to be implemented

Scalability

Solutions built for impact beyond pilots

Equity

Benefits and burdens addressed explicitly

Collaboration

Academia, Industry, Government, and Community

Pillars

Planetary Health challenges are interconnected and systemic. At McMaster, our work is organized across six core pillars that reflect the environmental, health, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. Together, these pillars provide a coherent framework for research, innovation, policy engagement, and real-world impact.

The Pillars

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Pillar 1 — Climate & Energy Systems

This pillar focuses on understanding and addressing the drivers and impacts of climate change across energy systems, infrastructure, and communities. Work in this area supports mitigation, adaptation, and resilience by advancing low-carbon solutions and climate-responsive systems.

Focus areas

  • Climate risk and resilience

  • Energy transitions and net-zero pathways

  • Climate adaptation strategies

Pillar 2 — Health & Well-Being

Human health is inseparable from environmental conditions. This pillar examines how climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation affect physical, mental, and community health, with the goal of informing interventions that protect vulnerable populations and improve well-being.

Focus areas

  • Environmental determinants of health

  • Climate-related health risks

  • Population and community resilience

Pillar 3 — Nature, Ecosystems & Biodiversity

Healthy ecosystems are foundational to Planetary Health. This pillar advances knowledge and solutions that protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and strengthen ecological resilience in the face of climate and human pressures.

Focus areas

    • Ecosystem services and resilience

    • Biodiversity conservation

    • Land, water, and natural systems management

Pillar 4 — Sustainable Economies & Finance

Economic systems play a decisive role in shaping environmental and health outcomes. This pillar explores how financial, market, and economic mechanisms can be aligned with sustainability goals to support equitable and resilient transitions.

Focus areas

  • Sustainable finance and investment

  • Climate-related financial risk

  • Economic pathways for sustainability

Pillar 5 — Policy, Governance & Equity

Effective governance is essential for translating Planetary Health knowledge into action. This pillar addresses policy design, regulatory frameworks, and equity considerations to ensure that sustainability transitions are fair, inclusive, and evidence-based.

Focus areas

  • Climate and environmental policy

  • Governance and decision-making

  • Equity, justice, and inclusion

Pillar 6 — Innovation & Systems Transformation

Solving Planetary Health challenges requires transforming systems, not just improving components. This pillar focuses on innovation, implementation, and scaling solutions that bridge research, policy, and practice.

Focus areas

  • Systems thinking and integration

  • Technology and social innovation

  • Scaling and implementation pathways

How the pillars work together?

Planetary Health outcomes emerge at the intersections of these pillars. Climate solutions influence health outcomes. Economic and financial systems shape environmental decisions. Governance determines whether innovations scale equitably.

McMaster’s Planetary Health approach emphasizes integration across pillars, enabling coordinated action on complex challenges that no single discipline can solve alone.

Pathways forward

Research, Innovation, and Implementation Efforts

Leadership, Policy, and Partnership Opportunities

Partnerships

Why Partnerships Matter?

Climate change, environmental degradation, and health inequities cut across institutional, sectoral, and geographic boundaries. Partnerships enable Planetary Health work to move beyond research into implementation, policy, and real-world impact.

Through collaboration, partners help:

  • Align evidence with decision-making

  • Reduce fragmentation across systems

  • Accelerate the development and scaling of solutions

Who We Partner With

Planetary Health partnerships are intended for organizations and groups working toward sustainability, resilience, and equity, including:

  • Public-sector organizations and governments

  • Industry and innovation partners

  • Financial and investment stakeholders

  • Community and non-profit organizations

  • Academic and research institutions

Partnership Models

Planetary Health at McMaster supports multiple partnership pathways, depending on objectives and capacity:

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Research Partnerships

Collaborative research addressing Planetary Health challenges, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and applied outcomes.

Innovation & Implementation Partnerships

Co-development, testing, and scaling of solutions informed by research and real-world needs.

Policy & Decision-Support Partnerships

Engagement focused on evidence-informed policy design, governance, and strategic planning.

Convening & Knowledge Exchange

Joint forums, workshops, and conferences that support dialogue, learning, and coordination across sectors.

Principles of Collaboration

All Planetary Health partnerships are guided by shared principles:

  • Evidence-based decision-making

  • Transparency and trust

  • Equity and inclusion

  • Respect for expertise and lived experience

  • Commitment to real-world impact

How to Explore a Partnership

Planetary Health at McMaster is actively interested in new collaborations.

Organizations and groups interested in exploring a partnership are encouraged to:

  • Share their goals and areas of interest

  • Identify potential areas of alignment

  • Discuss appropriate partnership models