Planetary Dysregulation and Our Mental Health

"The Centric Lab, a neuroscience lab focused on health justice based in London, is exploring the phrase "planetary dysregulation, defined as "the impaired ability of planetary systems to maintain and the processes required for self-regulation, particularly due to unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems and chronic exposure to industrial contamination." The importance is focusing on root causes, to explain not only what is happening, but also why it is happening."

"The manifold effects on humanity emerge. Overexploiting ecosystems reduces green space around us, including its ability to filter pollution and absorb runoff. The physical effects of pollution and of flooded infrastructure lead to stress, distress, anxiety, and feelings of depression. Intertwined mental health and physical health continue to decline. The lack of green space can disincentivise physical exercise. Adequate nutrition and clean drinking water are influenced by ravaged nature."

Planetary dysregulation denotes the impaired ability of planetary systems to maintain and perform processes required for self-regulation, driven by unsustainable ecosystem exploitation and chronic industrial contamination. Overexploiting ecosystems reduces green space and its capacity to filter pollution and absorb runoff. Pollution and damaged infrastructure produce physical harms and generate stress, anxiety, distress, and depression. Loss of green space reduces incentives for physical exercise and undermines adequate nutrition and clean drinking water. Insufficient exercise, food, and water create interconnected declines in physical and mental health. Framings that focus only on climate change capture a single symptom rather than root causes. Adequate framings can guide actions that improve human and planetary health.

Read at Psychology Today