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In contemporary life, where we face converging global challenges – wars, pandemics, climate change, and biodiversity loss – sustainable development and the pursuit of sustainability have become humanity's paramount priority. However, this pursuit is not solely focused on human growth and prosperity; it demands a harmonious coexistence with our planet. Seeking to find the silver lining through the "One Health" approach, the paradigm demonstrates that the connection between human, animal, and environmental health is inseparable and aids in achieving balance.
The "One Health" system urges us to view health as a holistic entity. By promoting a collaborative and integrated approach within society, it rejects the human-centered view of separate medical, veterinary, and environmental studies. Essentially, it is acknowledged that our well-being depends on the health of the ecosystems in which we ourselves exist.
Several indicators influence global sustainable development:
- Destruction of forests and natural habitats
- Antibiotic use in livestock
- Environmental degradation
- The global political situation
The emergence and prolonged duration of global pandemics, such as COVID-19, highlight the interconnectedness of health. [1] Deforestation and the destruction of wildlife habitats disrupt natural ecosystems. This has a direct impact on humans, as the destruction of natural habitats forces wildlife into human-populated areas, increasing human-animal contact. This, in turn, elevates the risk of zoonotic pathogen spillover, a key factor in the emergence and spread of COVID-19. Essentially, this creates an ideal environment for pandemic spread, not only among humans but also within animal populations.
More than two years after the start of lockdowns, increasing statistical data reveals the impact of COVID-19 on both humanity and wildlife. While the internet is rife with statistics on domestic animal deaths, there is also a growing body of articles and scientific papers on wild animals. One such article on the "Cidrap" website states: "SARS-CoV-2 has been found repeatedly in whitetail deer, and the animal may serve as a reservoir for the virus across North America, the authors said. In Texas, captive deer are found in more than 1,000 facilities with 100 to 300 animals each. These facilities could pose a transmission risk between humans and animals." [2] This clearly demonstrates how deforestation and habitat destruction increase the risk of pandemic spreading.
Another crucial factor impacting "One Health" is the use of antibiotics in livestock. Like all profit-driven organizations, livestock farming is no exception in its pursuit of increased production, which is achieved through antibiotic use. Frequent antibiotic use increases antimicrobial resistance in animals. This poses a significant threat to human health, especially as resistant bacteria spread through the food chain and environment. A World Health Organization (WHO) report emphasizes the urgent need to address AMR through a "One Health" approach. [3] In Figure 3you can see the wight trends by pharmaceutical form since 1999 in France. What you also can see, the overall usage of antibiotics in animal production has fallen a lot.
Environmental degradation is another extremely important factor in sustainable global development. It directly affects human health. Climate change, particularly air pollution caused by industrial activities and fossil fuel combustion, directly contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular problems. The World Health Organization frequently publishes articles on its website about the link between climate change and various diseases. One such article, "From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate across the globe," states: "Air pollution is a risk for all-cause mortality as well as specific diseases. The specific disease outcomes most strongly linked with exposure to air pollution include stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia, and cataract (household air pollution only)." [5]
Political stability directly impacts environmental well-being, particularly when consistent and effective environmental policies are promoted. Political unrest significantly increases the risk of natural habitat and ecosystem destruction. For example, the ongoing war in Ukraine has severe consequences for Ukrainian ecosystems, including wildlife destruction, forest fires, and ultimately, the disruption of sustainable human life. Therefore, a stable political environment is essential for implementing and maintaining measures that protect environmental health.
Adopting a One Health approach necessitates a fundamental shift in our practices. It involves:
- Integrated Surveillance: Establishing robust surveillance systems that monitor health threats across human, animal, and environmental domains.
- Collaborative Research: Fostering interdisciplinary research that investigates the complex interactions between health and the environment.
- Sustainable Practices: Promoting sustainable agriculture, responsible resource management, and conservation efforts.
- Policy Integration: Incorporating One Health principles into policy frameworks.
- Sustainable Land Management: Promoting practices that protect biodiversity.
- Responsible Antibiotic Use: Implementing strategies to reduce antibiotic use in livestock.
- Ecosystem Restoration: Restoring degraded ecosystems to enhance their resilience. [6, 7]
Sustainable Well-being transcends the mere absence of disease, it encompasses a state of holistic flourishing for both humans and nature. This involves:
- Promoting Healthy Diets: Transitioning towards plant-rich diets.
- Investing in Green Infrastructure: Enhancing urban green spaces to improve air quality and mental well-being.
- Empowering Communities: Engaging local communities in decision-making processes
- Fostering Education: Integrating One Health principles into educational curricula
- Creating Green Urban Spaces: Incorporating parks and gardens into urban environments
- Supporting Local Communities: Empowering communities to manage their natural resources [8, 9]
There are many studies that provide detailed information on how the urban green spaces increased contact with nature and exposure to cognitive development has a positive impact to sustainable development of not only our society, but also on nature. [8, 10, 11]
The One Health approach is not merely a theoretical concept; it is a call to action. It demands a collective commitment to fostering a world where human and planetary health are inextricably intertwined. By embracing this holistic perspective, we can forge a path towards Sustainable Well-being, ensuring a thriving future for all. In essence, Sustainable Well-being, through the One Health lens, is about recognizing our place within the unified web of life. When we nurture our ecosystems, we are ultimately nurturing ourselves. [12]
Integrating interdisciplinarity and the One Health approach is challenging yet essential across various study fields. Environmental education often focuses on environmental issues, other study fields focus more on their specialization, but sustainability and regenerative strategies require educational shifts to meet job market needs. Transformative education must adapt teaching practices to merge disciplines under the One Health approach, providing a comprehensive foundation for specializations.
This enhances understanding of socio-environmental issues, fosters innovative solutions, and nurtures engaged citizens from early education. These proposals support classroom practices and teacher development.[16]
In summary, the One Health approach aligns with Sustainable Well-being. Applying interdisciplinarity and integrity in both fosters holistic, critical thinking for responsible communities.
List of References
1. BRANCALION, P.H.S., et al. Emerging Threats Linking Tropical Deforestation and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, -10-01, 2020, vol. 18, no. 4 [Mar 29, 2025]. pp. 243–246 Prieiga per: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064420300584 ISSN 2530-0644. DOI 10.1016/j.pecon.2020.09.006.
2. Captive Deer in Texas show Evidence of Widespread COVID Exposure | CIDRAP. [Mar 29, 2025]. Prieiga per:https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/captive-deer-texas-show-evidence-widespread-covid-exposure.
3. Antimicrobial Resistance, Nov 21, 2023 Prieiga per: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance.
4. Farm animals are given feed containing antibiotics: TRUE or FALSE? - Chaire bien-être animal. -02-02, 2024 [Mar 29, 2025]. Prieiga per: https://chaire-bea.vetagro-sup.fr/en/farm-animals-are-given-feed-containing-antibiotics-true-or-false/.
5. From Smog Hanging Over Cities to Smoke Inside the Home, Air Pollution Poses a Major Threat to Health and Climate Across the Globe. Prieiga per: https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/air-quality-energy-and-health/health-impacts#:~:text=Air%20pollution%20is%20a%20risk,(household%20air%20pollution%20only)..
6. NGUYEN-VIET, H., et al. Insights and Future Directions: Applying the One Health Approach in International Agricultural Research for Development to Address Food Systems Challenges. One Health, -06-01, 2025, vol. 20 [ Mar 29, 2025]. pp. 101007Prieiga per: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425000436 ISSN 2352-7714. DOI 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101007.
7. One Health, Oct 23, 2023 Prieiga per: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/one-health.
8. STENFORS, C.U.D., et al. Positive Effects of Nature on Cognitive Performance Across Multiple Experiments: Test Order but Not Affect Modulates the Cognitive Effects. Frontiers in Psychology, July 3, 2019, vol. 10 [ Mar 29, 2025]. pp. 1413 Prieiga per: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6616085/ ISSN 1664-1078. DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01413.
9. Who Benefits from Nature in Cities? Social Inequalities in Access to Urban Green and Blue Spaces Across Europe, Feb 1, 2022 Prieiga per: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/who-benefits-from-nature-in.
10. jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of the Environment, Tourism. Why are Green Spaces Good for Us? [ Mar 29, 2025]. Prieiga per:https://www.detsi.qld.gov.au/our-department/news-media/down-to-earth/why-are-green-spaces-good-for-us.
11. Nature: How Connecting with Nature Benefits our Mental Health. [ Mar 29, 2025].Prieiga per:https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/nature-how-connecting-nature-benefits-our-mental-health.
12. DANASEKARAN, R. One Health: A Holistic Approach to Tackling Global Health Issues. Indian Journal of Community Medicine: Official Publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 2024, vol. 49, no. 2 [ Mar 29, 2025]. pp. 260–263 Prieiga per: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11042131/ ISSN 0970-0218. DOI 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_521_23.
13. One Health. [ Mar 29, 2025]. Prieiga per:https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/one-health.
14. GHAI, R.R., et al. A Generalizable One Health Framework for the Control of Zoonotic Diseases. Scientific Reports, May 21, 2022, vol. 12, no. 1 [ Mar 29, 2025]. pp. 8588 Prieiga per: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-12619-1 ISSN 2045-2322. DOI 10.1038/s41598-022-12619-1.
15. Our Approach. [ Mar 29, 2025]. Prieiga per:https://iclei.org/our_approach/.
16. Pérez-Martín, J. M., & Esquivel-Martín, T. (2024). New Insights for Teaching the One Health Approach: Transformative Environmental Education for Sustainability. Sustainability, 16(18), 7967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187967
Authors: Ugne Viktorija Paulauskaite, Inga Gurauskiene
Publication Date: 12.05.2025
DISCLAIMER:
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji (FRSE). Neither the European Union nor FRSE can be held responsible for them.
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