Environmental and Ecological Determinants and Population Health

Environment is one of the important factors affecting people’s health and well-being. Population health is closely related to environmental and ecological influences, which are especially crucial in achieving sustainable development of the community. In order to create a sustainable world, the United Nations has advocated the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global challenge to achieving these goals. The unfolding situation may turn out to be a golden opportunity for all countries in the post-pandemic era. The impacts on the relevant SDGs will serve as catalysts in finding solutions or making adjustments in health promotion and improvement of well-being. In addition, One Health is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and the environment. The approach mobilises multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities at varying levels of society to work together. Food security, water and sanitation, energy access, climate change, etc., are of fundamental importance in SDGs. These perspectives and directions will pave the way for a sustainable and healthy environment for all. In this chapter, relevant studies across the regions on the environmental and ecological determinants of health will be reviewed. Actions or strategies addressing climate change, preserving biodiversity, and integrating health and medicine approaches will be proposed to inspire transformative approaches for sustainable health promotion for the population.