'Planetary health' leadership at a time of a triple planetary crisis and breached planetary boundaries

Health professionals (HPs) have been called on to be resource stewards and sustainable healthcare champions2 or climate leaders.3 Many have also lobbied governments to address air pollution.4 In early 2020, as countries were closing borders due to COVID-19, Judy McKimm and I published an article calling for eco-ethical leaders in health professions education (HPE) to tackle our ‘wicked’ planetary issues and to prepare the next generation of ethical, just and ecologically conscious HPs.5 The ‘eco’ reflected the need to protect (and restore) the world’s ecosystems while the ‘ethical’ related to the unequal impact of rising greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and ecosystem damage (hence biodiversity loss) on those least responsible (ie, communities in low-middle income countries; other living ‘beings’). Yassaie and Garman’s BMJ Leader call for ‘planetary health’ leadership articles is also a call to action: “As the science progresses, pressure is increasing on health leaders to incorporate a planetary health lens into their decision-making” (p. 1).6 Their editorial ended with a poignant rhetorical question at a time of ’a triple planetary crisis’ (changing climate, biodiversity loss, pollution)7 and six of nine planetary boundaries breached:8 “After all, if we are not leading for planetary health, what on Earth are we leading for?”