Health Synergies across International Sustainability and Development Agendas: Pathways to Strengthen National Action

Kathryn J. Bowen, Nabreesa Murphy, Sarah Dickin, Adis Dzebo and Charles Ebikeme
Additional contact information
Kathryn J. Bowen: Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany
Nabreesa Murphy: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Sarah Dickin: Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 115 23 Stockholm, Sweden
Adis Dzebo: Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 115 23 Stockholm, Sweden
Charles Ebikeme: Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Since 2015 there has been a surge of international agendas to address a range of global challenges: climate change (Paris Agreement), sustainable development (Agenda 2030), disaster risk reduction (Sendai Framework) and sustainable urban transformation (New Urban Agenda). Health is relevant to all of these agendas. Policymakers must now translate these global agendas into national level policies to implement the agreed goals in a coherent manner. However, approaches to synergise health activities within and across these agendas are needed, in order to achieve better coherence and maximise national level implementation. This research evaluated the framing of human health within these agendas. A content analysis of the agendas was conducted. Findings indicate (i) the importance of increased awareness of health systems strengthening as a helpful framework to guide the integration of health issues across the agendas, (ii) only two health themes had synergies across the agendas, (iii) the lack of a governance mechanism to support the integration of these four agendas to enable national (and sub-national) governments to more feasibly implement their ambitions, and (iv) the vital component of health leadership. Finally, planetary health is a relevant and timely concept that can support the urgent shift to a healthy planet and people.

Keywords: global health; implementation; governance; climate change; urbanisation; disaster risk reduction; sustainable development; international agendas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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