THE PRESENT: Climate, Health & Crisis management

THE PRESENT: Climate, Health & Crisis management

Planetary Ethics (European Group on Ethics) - Onehealth

Today's environmental crises and our reactions to them raise a number of ethical questions. They concern the relationship between humans and other entities, including our responsibility vis-à-vis non-human nature, and human action, ongoing and future, to address one of the greatest challenges that humanity has faced.
The panel will discuss how principles such as justice, inclusivity, solidarity, and equity can guide a fair transition to sustainable ways of living, importantly as regards the less affluent regions of the planet that have contributed little to these crises and are strongly affected by them, and as regards our responsibility towards future generations.
Speakers will also address how narrow framings of nature as a public good at humanity’s disposal can be by overcome by broader understandings of the intrinsic value of nature. In this context, emerging concepts of large-scale geo-engineering will be discussed through the lens of ‘the place’ of humans in nature, contextual causes, risks, and potential long-term effects.
Bringing these considerations together with the concept of One Health, the panellists will also reflect on how One Health perspectives and actions can help with addressing the environmental crises, and – vice-versa and beyond an anthropocentric focus – how concepts and arguments from environmental ethics can help to further develop One Health approaches.
 

Facing Scarcity

Public authorities are responsible for guaranteeing the population's health. To fulfil this obligation, public policies must aim at a social organization that provides sufficient health care staff, equipment and medication as well as adapted procedures. This allows society to be prepared for foreseeable events that could pressure the healthcare system and avoid a shortfall in healthcare supply. During the pandemic, many countries (including in Europe) faced shortages not only of drugs and vaccines, but also of intensive care beds and qualified personnel.  How were these situations handled from an ethical point of view, and what were the recommendations of National Ethics Committees and their impact?

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