Public Health

Optimizing Earth Observations for a Healthier Tomorrow

Public health and the environment are deeply connected. As our natural surroundings change—from climate shifts to land-use alterations—they can present multiple health risks, from the emergence of new diseases to the intensification of existing ones.

The integration of Earth observations can provide transformative insights into these challenges. For example, we can:

• Monitor and forecast potential health risks such as air quality deterioration or disease outbreaks.
• Understand and predict environmental factors that might lead to respiratory illnesses, malnutrition, or disease transmission.
• Offer early warnings for potential health crises, like contaminated seafood from algae blooms or respiratory challenges from dust storms.
• Track environmental changes that may open pathways for diseases, such as Lyme or HIV/AIDS.

Beyond monitoring

Earth observations aren’t only about collecting data. They are about enabling nations, communities, and individuals to proactively address health challenges. Whether it’s predicting an outbreak of malaria or cholera based on weather patterns or ensuring the public is informed about air quality, these observations lead to timely interventions, saving lives and enhancing overall health & well-being.

The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is vital to this initiative. This system consolidates diverse environmental data sets, ensuring that public health workers, policymakers, and communities have all the information they need, when they need it.