Everything Is Connected: Five Ways to Boost Your Health and the Planet’s

Everything is connected. Below are five ways to boost both your individual health and the health of our planet—a combination that environmentalists call co-benefits. Since Earth Day began in 1970, awareness of environmental issues has never been more important. Climate change impacts—fires, storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, rising sea levels, and species extinction—directly or indirectly threaten our well-being. Air pollution from fossil fuels and wildfires worsens lung problems, while warming regions expand ranges for tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. The concept of planetary health acknowledges that our ecosystem and our health are inextricably intertwined, and individual efforts, when combined, can move the needle in the right direction.

1. Eat More Plant-Based Foods

Increasing plant-based foods in your diet while minimizing meat lowers risks of heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and many cancers. Compared to meat-based meals, plant-based meals have a lower carbon footprint and use fewer resources like land and water.

2. Learn About Nutritional and Environmental Impacts

Plant foods vary in both nutritional content and environmental impact. Learn to read Nutrition Facts labels to determine calories, fiber, protein, and micronutrients. For a general sense of environmental impact, explore interactive graphs on sites like Our World in Data to compare carbon footprints, water use, and land use of different foods.

3. Opt for Active or Public Transportation

Whenever possible, choose walking, biking, or public transportation over driving. Fewer miles driven in gas-powered vehicles means cleaner air, decreased carbon emissions, and less air pollution—which is known to cause asthma exacerbations and other diseases.

4. Meet Physical Activity Guidelines

Current health recommendations encourage adults to get 150 minutes each week of moderate-intensity physical activity plus two muscle-strengthening sessions. Regular activity improves mental health, bone health, and weight management, and reduces risks of heart disease, some cancers, and falls in older adults.

5. Set Personal Goals and Build Community

Changes that work for one person may not work for another. Pledge attainable goals—eat one vegan meal per week or limit beef to once a week, try the bus or a bike commute when weather allows. Sharing your pledges with others builds community, contributes to well-being and resilience, and amplifies impact. Your actions might even influence decision-makers like school-meal planners or city planners for bike lanes!