Bioethics for the planet

Warwick  Anderson; Jakelin  Troy; Tamara Lucas; Anthony Capon; Paul  Komesaroff; J  Baird Caldicott; Jennifer Cole; James Dunk; Renzo Guinto; David S Jones; Emma Kowal; Susan L Prescott; Nicole Redvers; Christina Richie; Susan M Sawyer; Julian Sheather; Sverker  Sörlin; Min Yee Tan; Mujahid Torwali; Ross  Upshur; Alistair  Wardrope; Verina Wild

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01068-2

Bioethics for the planet

Warwick Anderson, Jakelin Troy, Tamara Lucas, Anthony Capon, Paul Komesaroff, J Baird Caldicott, Jennifer Cole, James Dunk, Renzo Guinto, David S Jones, Emma Kowal, Susan L Prescott, Nicole Redvers, Christina Richie, Susan M Sawyer, Julian Sheather, Sverker Sörlin, Min Yee Tan, Mujahid Torwali, Ross UpshurAlistair Wardrope, Verina Wild

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The conventional fields of bioethics and biomedical ethics are poorly equipped to offer health professionals and policy makers the action-based guidance necessary to confront these planetary-scale drivers of ill health. We call for more effective inclusion of planetary health in bioethics to identify, guide, and implement a forceful approach to these major global challenges. This approach would prioritise the “bios” component of bioethics, thereby encompassing the biosphere and offering a compelling ethical framework to support people working at the intersection of medical and environmental practices. Such an inclusion implies the development of bioethics less confined by anthropocentrism.

Original language	English
Journal	The Lancet
Early online date	29 Jul 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01068-2
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 29 Jul 2025

Keywords

Bioethics
Planetary Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01068-2

Embargoed Document

Accepted Manuscript
Accepted author manuscript, 269 KB
Licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Embargo ends: 29/01/26

1 Other report
1 Conference contribution

Climate Change and Health: Embedding Ethics Into Policy and Decision Making
on Bioethics, N. C. & Cole, J. (Editor), Jan 2025, Nuffield Council on Biotethics. 58 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Other report

Open Access
Thoughts into Interdisciplinary Action: A 12-Step Programme for Earth
Cole, J., Foster, A., Farlow, A., Petrikova, I. & Cheema, K., 5 Nov 2019, Eighth Annual Conference of inVIVO Planetary Health: From Challenges to Opportunities for People, Place, Purpose and Planet. MPDI International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. Special Issue. p. 61-63 3 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Open Access

Cite this

Anderson, W., Troy, J., Lucas, T., Capon, A., Komesaroff, P., Baird Caldicott, J., Cole, J., Dunk, J., Guinto, R., Jones, D. S., Kowal, E., Prescott, S. L., Redvers, N., Richie, C., Sawyer, S. M., Sheather, J., Sörlin, S., Tan, M. Y., Torwali, M., ... Wild, V. (2025). Bioethics for the planet. The Lancet. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01068-2

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AU - Anderson, Warwick

AU - Troy, Jakelin

AU - Lucas, Tamara

AU - Capon, Anthony

AU - Komesaroff, Paul

AU - Baird Caldicott, J

AU - Cole, Jennifer

AU - Dunk, James

AU - Guinto, Renzo

AU - Jones, David S

AU - Kowal, Emma

AU - Prescott, Susan L

AU - Redvers, Nicole

AU - Richie, Christina

AU - Sawyer, Susan M

AU - Sheather, Julian

AU - Sörlin, Sverker

AU - Tan, Min Yee

AU - Torwali, Mujahid

AU - Upshur, Ross

AU - Wardrope, Alistair

AU - Wild, Verina

PY - 2025/7/29

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AB - The conventional fields of bioethics and biomedical ethics are poorly equipped to offer health professionals and policy makers the action-based guidance necessary to confront these planetary-scale drivers of ill health. We call for more effective inclusion of planetary health in bioethics to identify, guide, and implement a forceful approach to these major global challenges. This approach would prioritise the “bios” component of bioethics, thereby encompassing the biosphere and offering a compelling ethical framework to support people working at the intersection of medical and environmental practices. Such an inclusion implies the development of bioethics less confined by anthropocentrism.

KW - Bioethics

KW - Planetary Health

U2 - 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01068-2

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SN - 0140-6736

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Bioethics for the planet

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Embargoed Document

Research output

Climate Change and Health: Embedding Ethics Into Policy and Decision Making

Thoughts into Interdisciplinary Action: A 12-Step Programme for Earth

Cite this