Ecosystem-based translation of health research: expanding frameworks for environmental health

Increasing concern for the consequences of global ecological change (GEC) has seen sustainable ecological development emerge as a human health priority.1, 2 Policy frameworks are in place to protect the health‐nurturing properties of the natural environment and to limit the health harms of development. Landmark events such as the Ottawa Charter (1986), United Nation’s (UN) Conference on Environment and Development (1992), the Convention of Biodiversity (1992), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992), the Millennium Development Goals (2000), the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005), and now the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2015–2030 have had significant impact on domestic policy, including within Australia. There are concurrent calls for biodiversity conservation to be mainstreamed (e.g. Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030) and for strategic consideration of the World Health Organization’s Health in All Policies (2013), in addition to SDG and carbon emission reduction goals that exist and provide frameworks within which such aspirations may be met.