Project Earthrise: Proceedings of the ninth annual conference of inVIVO planetary health
Date
2021
Authors
Prescott, Susan L.
Wegienka, Ganesa
Kort, Remco
Nelson, David H.
Gabrysch, Sabine
Hancock, Trevor
Kozyrskyj, Anita
Lowry, Christopher A.
Redvers, Nicole
Poland, Blake
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
The “Earthrise” photograph, taken on the 1968 Apollo 8 mission, became one of the most
significant images of the 20th Century. It triggered a profound shift in environmental awareness and
the potential for human unity—inspiring the first Earth Day in 1970. Taking inspiration from these
events 50 years later, we initiated Project Earthrise at our 2020 annual conference of inVIVO Planetary
Health. This builds on the emergent concept of planetary health, which provides a shared narrative
to integrate rich and diverse approaches from all aspects of society towards shared solutions to
global challenges. The acute catastrophe of the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn greater attention to
many other interconnected global health, environmental, social, spiritual, and economic problems
that have been underappreciated or neglected for decades. This is accelerating opportunities for
greater collaborative action, as many groups now focus on the necessity of a “Great Transition”.
While ambitious integrative efforts have never been more important, it is imperative to apply these
with mutualistic value systems as a compass, as we seek to make wiser choices. Project Earthrise is
our contribution to this important process. This underscores the imperative for creative ecological
solutions to challenges in all systems, on all scales with advancing global urbanization in the digital
age—for personal, environmental, economic and societal health alike. At the same time, our agenda
seeks to equally consider our social and spiritual ecology as it does natural ecology. Revisiting the
inspiration of “Earthrise”, we welcome diverse perspectives from across all dimensions of the arts
and the sciences, to explore novel solutions and new normative values. Building on academic rigor,
we seek to place greater value on imagination, kindness and mutualism as we address our greatest
challenges, for the health of people, places and planet.
Description
Keywords
planetary health, grand challenges, Anthropocene, Symbiocene, collaboration, interdependence, social and economic justice, interdisciplinary research, resilience thinking, the great transition, biodiversity losses, climate change, environmental degradation, public health, ecology, anthropology, political/social/environmental sciences, philosophy, geography, spirituality, human culture, history and tradition, architecture and design, arts, ethics, wisdom, Indigenous governance
Citation
Prescott, S. L., Wegienka, G., Kort, R., Nelson, D. H., Gabrysch, S., Hancock, T., . . . Berman, B. (2021). “Project Earthrise: Proceedings of the ninth annual conference of inVIVO Planetary Health.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10654. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010654