Environmental Collapse, policies, paradoxes and global health

Abstract

This essay proposes critical reflection on the world environmental collapse and its consequences for all living beings, not only on 'global health', traditionally understood as the health of humans. Discusses two particularly relevant topics – climate crisis and energy transition – and the role of some policies elaborated to address the real risk of a possible deterioration of the planet life. Summarizes the major contemporary problems responsible for this situation and their structural causes. Argues that these are long and multidimensional processes linked to a permanent growth/development model, driving overlapping and interrelated crises. Briefly analyzes the ongoing geopolitical crisis and the impact of this entire scenario on the international system and the United Nations (UN), including the World Health Organization (WHO). The information and data come from bibliographic and document reviews, as well as from internet articles and newspaper reports. Concludes that to problematize the complexity of the environmental situation and the scope of some policies can help to understand the underlying structural dynamics, the depoliticizations, contradictions and paradoxes of the proposals for 'adaptation' and 'overcoming crises' and the necessary changes.