Biodiversity, Freshwater, & Nutrition

Biodiversity, Freshwater, & Nutrition

Nursing 290: Health Impacts of Climate Change, Week 6, June 3rd, 2024.
Developed by Raluca Radu MSN, RN, Monica Rana, MPH, Ph.D., and Chandra Waddington, RN, MSN.

Learning Objectives

  • Examine the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems in planetary health.
  • Describe the key roles of biodiversity.
  • Differentiate between various types of ecosystems.
  • Recognize the importance of freshwater and the water cycle in a changing climate.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how food production affects natural systems (and vice-versa) in a changing climate.
  • Identify health impacts that stem from altered nutrition in a changing climate.

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity

  • The variety of all living organisms on the surface of the Earth.
  • Present within and between species, as well as between and within ecosystems.
  • Higher number of species leads to a healthier ecosystem and positive outcomes for all on the planet.

Ecosystems

  • A community of organisms together with their physical environment.
  • Three types: Marine (saltwater), Aquatic (freshwater), and Terrestrial.
  • The higher the biodiversity present, the more resilient they are in the face of disturbances.

UN Biodiversity, 2017

  • Health Definition: Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
  • Biological Diversity (Biodiversity) Definition: The variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
  • Biodiversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the provision of goods and services that are essential to human health and well-being.
  • Links between biodiversity and health are manifested at various spatial and temporal scales. Biodiversity and human health, and the respective policies and activities, are interlinked in various ways.
  • Factors Linking Biodiversity and Health:
    • Agricultural biodiversity
    • Mental health
    • Biomedical/pharmaceutical discovery
    • Traditional medicine
    • Nutrition
    • Disaster risk
    • Food & Water security
    • Climate change
    • Sustainable development
    • Air quality
    • Water quality
    • Microbial biodiversity
    • Ecosystems
    • Infectious diseases
  • Direct drivers of biodiversity loss include land-use change, habitat loss, over-exploitation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Many of these drivers affect human health directly and through their impacts on biodiversity.
  • Women and men have different roles in the conservation and use of biodiversity and varying health impacts.
  • Human population health is determined, to a large extent, by social, economic, and environmental factors.
  • The social and natural sciences are important contributors to biodiversity and health research and policy. Integrative approaches such as the Ecosystem Approach, Ecohealth, and One Health unite different fields and require the development of mutual understanding and cooperation across disciplines.

Forests and Climate Change

  • Forests act as both a source and sink for carbon.
  • Standing forests absorb carbon dioxide (CO_2).
  • Cleared, degraded forests release carbon dioxide (CO_2).
  • Young, regrowing forests absorb CO_2.

Wetlands

  • Crucial role of wetlands, often called “the unsung heroes of our natural world”.
  • Canada is home to approximately 25% of the world’s wetlands.
  • Wetlands store water from snow and rainfall, releasing it when things get dry.
  • Without wetlands, our supply of freshwater would disappear.
  • Serve as a food source and shelter for other species.
  • Excellent recreation places.

Freshwater

  • Humans and ecosystems depend on a clean and safe supply of water for survival.
  • Water is also critical for agricultural use and energy production.

Water Distribution

  • 97% is saltwater (marine ecosystems - oceans & seas).
  • 3% is freshwater (aquatic ecosystems - glaciers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater).

The Water Cycle

  • The heat of the sun provides energy to make the water cycle work.
  • The sun evaporates water from the oceans into water vapor.
  • This invisible vapor rises into the atmosphere, where the air is colder.
  • Water vapor condenses into clouds.
  • Volcanoes emit steam, which helps form clouds.
  • Air currents move clouds all around the Earth.
  • Water drops form in clouds, and the drops then fall to Earth as precipitation (rain and snow).
  • In cold climates, precipitation builds up as snow, ice, and glaciers.
  • Snow can melt and become runoff, which flows into rivers, the oceans, and into the ground.
  • Some ice evaporates directly into the air, skipping the melting phase (sublimation).
  • Rainfall on land flows downhill as runoff, providing water to lakes, rivers, and the oceans.
  • Some rain soaks into the ground, as infiltration, and if deep enough, recharges groundwater.
  • Water from lakes and rivers can also seep into the ground.
  • Water moves underground because of gravity and pressure.
  • Groundwater close to the land surface is taken up by plants.
  • Some groundwater seeps into rivers and lakes, and can flow to the surface as springs.
  • Plants take up groundwater and evapotranspire, or evaporate, it from their leaves.
  • Some groundwater goes very deep into the ground and stays there for a long time.
  • Groundwater flows into the oceans, keeping the water cycle going.

Water Cycle: Demand vs. Supply

  • Water is a finite source.
  • Half of our global population relies on seasonal glacial melt of high-elevation snow and ice.
  • By 2030, water demand will be higher than available supply by 40%.

Hotter/Drier Conditions (Interior West)

  • Heat trapped by the atmosphere causes more evaporation and more precipitation.
  • Decrease in rainfall.
  • Decreases in snowfall due to warming lead to proportional decreased Increases in Snowpack and Glaciers
  • Earlier Peak Streamflow.
  • Increased Water Usage.
  • Reduction in Runoff.

Hotter/Wetter Conditions (NE and Coasts)

  • A Warmer Atmosphere Holds More Water Vapor, Which is Also a Heat Trapping Gas.
  • Decrease in Light Rains.
  • Increase in Rainfall From Heavy Precipitation Events Leads to Increased Flooding and Sediments.
  • More Severe Droughts Between Rains.
  • Increased Severe Droughts.
  • Decrease in Lake Ice.
  • Increased Potential Evaporation and Water Temperature.
  • Decrease in Late-Summer Water Flow with Increased Water Temperature.
  • Increase in Water Temperature Over Time.
  • Increased Water Used by Plants.
  • Increase in Sediment and Runoff.
  • Increased Evaporation.

Freshwater and Anthropogenic Activities

  • Food production.
  • Sustaining agriculture.
  • Powering homes.
  • Drinking sources.
  • Pollution.
  • Overuse.
  • Climate change.
  • Decreased availability.

Natural Systems & Food Production

  • Agrochemicals (fertilizers & pesticides):
    • Alter nutrient cycles
    • Contaminate groundwater
    • Contribute to smog
    • Can cause direct toxicity
  • Conversion of land for agriculture and animals husbandry = primary driver of biodiversity loss, land degradation, and water scarcity.

Environmental Impacts of Food and Agriculture

  • Greenhouse Gases:
    • 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions
    • Non-food: 38.7 billion tonnes CO_2eq (74% global emissions)
    • Food: 13.7 billion tonnes CO_2eq (26% global emissions)
  • Land Use:
    • 50% of global habitable (ice and desert-free) land
    • 51 million km^2
  • Freshwater Use:
    • 70% of global freshwater withdrawals
  • Eutrophication:
    • 78% of global ocean freshwater pollution
  • Biodiversity:
    • 94% mammal biomass (excluding humans) is livestock

Planetary Boundaries and Food System

  • An integrated agenda for food in the Anthropocene recognizes that food forms an inextricable link between human health and environmental sustainability.
  • The global food system must operate within boundaries for human health and food production to ensure healthy diets from sustainable food systems for nearly 10 billion people by 2050.

The Food Revolution

Diets That Help Fight Climate Change

The Planetary Health Plate

  • Includes:
    • Whole grains
    • Starchy vegetables
    • Dairy foods
    • Animal sourced protein (Beef, lamb and pork, Eggs, Poultry, Fish)
    • Plant sourced protein (Legumes, Nuts)
    • Unsaturated plant oils
    • Added sugars

Food Waste

Understanding Food Labels

  • Best Before Date:
    • May also be referred to as “use by date.”
    • Offers information regarding freshness and potential shelf-life of unopened food you are buying.
    • Mandatory to appear on pre-packaged foods that will keep fresh for 90 days or less.
    • Any food that has an anticipated shelf-life greater than 90 days is not required to be labeled with this information.
  • Expiration Date:
    • Must appear on formulated liquid diets, foods for use in a very low-energy diet, meal replacements, nutritional supplements, and infant formulas.
    • Once the expiration date has passed, the food/any of the above may not have the same nutrient content/value declared on the label.
    • If the expiration date has passed, throw away the food/supplement/etc.

Undernutrition

  • Insufficient caloric intake
  • Micronutrient Deficiencies
  • Insufficient intake of particular micronutrients (i.e., iron, zinc, vitamin A)

Overweight & Obesity

  • Result from excess caloric intake and driven by:
    • Sedentary lifestyles
    • Economic growth
    • Food system that encourages overconsumption
  • Contribute to metabolic disorders (i.e., elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, diabetes) that further exacerbate risk for heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Other Health Impacts

  • Dehydration
  • Long-term burden of disease

Population Growth, Hunger & Chaos

  • Can we feed the world and ensure no one goes hungry?

Population Growth, Hunger & Chaos

  • By 2050, world population projected to be ~10 billion
  • By 2050, up to 5 billion people will have poor freshwater access.
  • Food production results in 1/3 of global GHG emissions.
  • Drought will lead to a global food deficit.
  • Water as a catalyst for conflict.
  • Resources will continue to deplete.
  • Consumption habits (micro-level).

Food Production Endangers Animals

  • They're also home to endangered species