Contributor: Danielle Brochu
Nursology.net intern (2024-2025)
Nursing Supervisor, Hartford Hospital
It’s no secret that climate change secondary to worldwide industrialization has rapidly caused an increase in natural disasters as well as a higher potential for negative health outcomes. Issues with climate change and environmental hazards have both direct and indirect impacts on individuals and communities: People living in areas with chronic air quality issues have a higher likelihood of developing respiratory problems, areas with poor water quality have a notable effect on the prevalence of certain illnesses, and loss of biodiversity is negatively impacting communities around the globe. These issues should be alarming to all people, especially nurses, as we all function as stewards of global health and wellness.
The Butterfield upstream model for population health (BUMP Health) outlines four major determinants of health: environmental, economic, cultural, and opportunity. Healthy living conditions- including a safe water and food supply as well as the absence of air pollution, are foundational to the overall health of individuals and communities. This model articulates that the best remedy for issues with the determinants of health is to intervene proactively and broadly at the source. As nurses, we are taught to be fierce advocates for our patients; intervening as stewards of planetary health on local, state, national, and global levels are no exception. The model illustrates that the magnitude of health inequities drastically increases downstream from the point of inflection on the determinants of health, and that nurses can engage in upstream actions to target issues at the source. Focusing on preventative care within the context of the social determinants of health, supporting grassroots efforts to address disparities, and intentionally targeting change at the systems level can aid in the improvement of population health.
Planetary health is a concept that places emphasis on the relationship between the health of human beings and the health of our planet. A healthy Earth free from pollutants, wasteful practices, and stable weather patterns would result in less famine, chronic illness, heat-related health problems, and death among people. However, we unfortunately live in a world where single-use items are the norm, landfills grow larger by the day, and air pollution runs rampant, especially in population-dense areas. Single-use plastics, which are prevalent in the global healthcare industry, cause a huge strain on landfills, contribute to poor air quality when they are incinerated, and are often shipped to be dumped in low income countries, further widening the health disparities among marginalized groups. Kristin Six’s Nursology article further explores environmental justice and nurses’ ethical duty toward creating a healthier planet.
As the single largest group of professionals in the healthcare sector worldwide, nurses are in an exceptional position to advocate for planetary health by various means. Advocating on local and state levels by actively monitoring legislative action for climate-related bills being introduced with ramifications that could impact individuals and communities. Providing education to patients and colleagues about the risks to human health based on current threats to planetary health can empower them to create micro-level changes that can be disseminated through their communities. Participating in discussions on planetary health within grassroots groups such as the Alliance of Nurses for Health Environments and Healthcare Without Harm are an excellent option for nurses who are seeking community interprofessional organizations. Empowering all nurses to step up and serve as active guardians of our planetary health will show the strength of our numbers and have a profound global impact.
References
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (2025). https://envirn.org/
Healthcare Without Harm (2025). https://noharm.org/
About Danielle Brochu
