Climate change, the threat of collapse and the opportunity for transformation
Date
2012-03
Authors
Mash, Bob
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
Abstract
Around the world there are many examples
of previous human societies that have
collapsed and disappeared. Societies that
once flourished and seemed invincible,
but which are now no more, include Great
Zimbabwe in Africa, Easter Island in the
Pacific Ocean, Mycenaean Greece and
Minoan Crete in Europe and the Maya cities
of Central America. Professor Swilling, in
the opening article of this issue of CME,
presents us with a picture of global society
that is breaching the absolute limits of
environmental sustainability in several
interconnected ways, of which climate
change is only one. We face a global ‘polycrisis’
that is already impacting on public
health and which challenges us to revise
our global economic system, approach to
sustainable development and collective
lifestyle. It is a planetary crisis that requires
a transformative response on a global
level, but which will impact individuals in
communities on every continent.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.cmej.org.za/index.php/cmej
Keywords
Climatic changes -- Health aspects
Citation
Mash, B. 2012. Climate change, the threat of collapse and the opportunity for transformation. Continuing Medical Education, 30(3):67.