University of Vermont launches planetary health initiative

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A new $3 million dollar initiative is kicking off at the University of Vermont to better unite the university around planetary health.

The launch party kicked off this week at UVM. Planetary health describes the intersection at which the state of the natural environment effects the health of human population.

Like how wildfire smoke in Canada, affects breathing in our region, or how summer flooding can have and mental repercussions on our community.

Taylor Ricketts, Director of UVM's Gund Institute for Environment says the university's investment in the field is not only good news for the institution, but for the greater future of planetary health.

"It is important to invest in planetary health, and study it, because I think there are solutions to our health problems hiding in plain sight all over the place," Ricketts said. "We don't really really realize how much our health depends on the state of the natural world around us."

The university's one year action plan begins now. It includes work to implement planetary health practices at UVM, within the larger Vermont community, and grants for Professors and Post-Doctoral students.