Sick Planet, Sick People

Volgende maand verschijnt een nieuw boek OVER KLANT & MERK.

In dit boek besteed ik aandacht aan Paul Polman, CEO van Unilever van 2010 tot 2019.

Schrijver van Net Positive, samen met Andrew Winston.

Op zijn nieuwsbrief kun je intekenen via paulpolman.com. Daar kun je ook het boek bestellen.

Sicker planet, sicker people.

Polman’s core message: the environmental crisis isn’t just about melting glaciers or vanishing species, it's now a full-blown public health emergency. Earth will survive; humans may not, unless action is taken.

The environmental breakdown means that a health crisis transgressing planetary boundaries, like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, is directly harming human health and increasing disease globally.

What is the impact in the real world?

Heatwaves are causing thousands of deaths.

Pollution is linked to developmental issues, hormonal disruption, mental health decline, and disease.

Ecosystem degradation is driving outbreaks of illnesses like malaria and dengue.

Behind sterile data points are real lives affected: cancer registries, neonatal wards, and families grieving preventable deaths.

Vulnerable populations, like children, indigenous peoples, low-income communities bear the brunt despite contributing least to the problem.

o   Stop relying solely on outdated metrics like GDP.

o   Develop better tools to link environmental risk with health, economic, and social outcomes.

o   Invest in nature restoration, clean energy, and community-led sustainability for cascading benefits.

It is a matter of urgency: We have only 20–30 years to reverse course. The time for marginal reform is past—what’s needed is transformational leadership and systemic change.

The crisis is measurable, the science is clear, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The question now: Will leaders act on what they know?

Polman’s artikel is gebaseerd op een publicatie in The Lancet, toonaangevend blad voor ‘the best science for better lives.’