Eckart von Hirschhausen warns: Health depends on the earth!

Eckart von Hirschhausen warns: Health depends on the earth!

Eckart von Hirschhausen has been a strong advocate for the connection between personal and planetary health in recent years. After ending his stage career about three years ago, the doctor and author is concentrating on addressing important issues in light of the current ecological crises with his foundation “Healthy Earth – Healthy People”. He says that many current events can no longer be perceived as funny. In an interview, he emphasized the challenges of saving the world on a voluntary basis while at the same time people are working full-time to destroy it. These complex relationships reflect the current discussion about the climate crisis and the extinction of species (Kleine Zeitung reports that...).

Hirschhausen, known for his books such as "Man, Earth! We could have it so beautiful" and "The Penguin Who Learned to Fly", which made it to number 1 on the "Spiegel" bestseller list in the non-fiction category, would like to use his fame to draw attention to the need to not only save the earth or the climate, but above all, save people. In his opinion, physical and mental health depends heavily on an intact environment. This assessment is underpinned by the challenges posed by the climate crisis and species extinction. According to the WWF, these two crises have serious consequences for the health, nutrition, prosperity and security of future generations. The climate crisis and species extinction are closely linked and impact each other, which is why the need for more urgent action cannot be overlooked. Global warming has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, which has far-reaching consequences for our environment (WWF reports that...).

Biodiversity challenges

Current developments make it clear that species extinction and the climate crisis cannot be viewed in isolation. Biodiversity is suffering from enormous pressure caused by human activities such as habitat destruction and overexploitation. The World Biodiversity Council IPBES estimates that up to one million plant and animal species are at acute risk of extinction. These changes have complex effects on the climate system, particularly on the nitrogen, carbon and water cycles. These dynamic interactions between climate, biodiversity and human activities demonstrate the importance of an integrated approach to protecting the environment. Progress in protecting biological diversity has so far been insufficient, and the economic, social and ethical impacts are serious (DGVN reports that ...).

Hirschhausen therefore calls for broader climate communication that goes beyond the scientific discourse in newspapers. He announced that he will receive a prize of 20,000 euros for his work on June 12th. This award is presented at the University of Graz as part of a gala performance by the “Science Busters” and also includes a jar of alpaca droppings. Hirschhausen plans to share the prize money with the Austrian Climate Dashboard to support the work there. In this way, he would like to promote concrete measures and expand the dialogue on ecological issues. The award is given in memory of Heinz Oberhummer and highlights the need to form alliances, even with unexpected partners such as actuaries.

In this context, the urgency with which we as a society must respond to the challenges of today becomes clear. Healthy water, air and an intact natural environment are the foundations for a good life. This is demonstrated not only by the positive relationship between humans and the environment, but also by the health risks that arise from existing environmental pollution. According to UN data, around 3.4 million people die annually from diseases caused by contaminated water, while air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths. It is therefore clear that there is a link between ecological crises and the general health of people.

It is time to take action and find a new way to care for our planet and its health. Given the urgency of these challenges, voices like Eckart von Hirschhausen's can be crucial in driving awareness and action.