our challengeproviding education to community builders and policy makers.

Humans have always used the natural resources of the planet to feed, clothe, and house ourselves. The abundance of natural resources including soil, water, plants, animals, and especially fossil fuels, have allowed us to emerge as a dominant species. While the use of fossil fuels has made possible the improvement of the health of the average global citizen over the past century, planetary health has declined dramatically as evidenced by climate change and increased levels of all kinds of pollution. As a result, the health gains achieved in the past 50 years of global economic development could be reversed by 2050 due to the consequences of climate change and the negative human and planetary health impacts of human activity will continue at the peril of our, and many other, species.

The Institute for Human and Planetary Health exists in order to provide educational opportunities for those who want to restore human and planetary health, create resilient, healthy communities and help transform current policy that favors high cost medical care, industrial agricultural and food production systems over people and the environment.

We believe that, in order to both mitigate and adapt to climate change in a just manner, we must…

• Recognize that endless growth on a finite planet is not possible.
• Acknowledge that those who have been least responsible for our environmental destruction are most at risk from its consequences.
• In place of extractive capitalism, develop local (bioregional), low-carbon economies that can provide sustainable livelihoods and meet the basic needs of all people.