Extractive and exploitive human activities are having severe, adverse effects on planet Earth, which, in turn, affect our health, physical and mental. The terms used to describe this include climate change, climate crisis, planetary boundaries, and Earth system boundaries. None adequately integrates our mental health with how we treat the planet.

The Centric Lab, a neuroscience lab focused on health justice based in London, is exploring the phrase “planetary dysregulation, defined as “the impaired ability of planetary systems to maintain and the processes required for self-regulation, particularly due to unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems and chronic exposure to industrial contamination.” The importance is focusing on root causes, to explain not only what is happening, but also why it is happening.

The manifold effects on humanity emerge. Overexploiting ecosystems reduces green space around us, including its ability to filter pollution and absorb runoff. The physical effects of pollution and of flooded infrastructure lead to stress,........

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