Planetary Health in der Allgemeinmedizin

The so-called planetary crises climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution threaten health and the social cohesion of societies. Vulnerable groups are particularly affected. Against this background, the planetary health concept has evolved from previous concepts of public and global health. It focuses on the connections between the environment, society, and the health of all beings. The widely adopted and transdisciplinary concept Planetary Health is also described as a social–societal movement. This article highlights health consequences of the planetary crises and corresponding fields of action in the healthcare system with a focus on general medicine and aims to stimulate discussion. The integration of planetary health in general practice is becoming more important as environmental health impacts become tangible for patients and practitioners. At the same time, strengthening the primary care sector creates opportunities for adaptation and mitigation. Several approaches of planetary health and general medicine overlap in terms of adapting to environmental impacts, preparing for further crises and strengthening health promotion as well as prevention. However, as medical care has a high environmental impact, it is also necessary to manage general practice offices sustainably. With the integration of planetary health into guidelines, important aspects could be incorporated into everyday general medicine routines. Environmentally sensitive health counselling and prevention are of particular importance here. In order to promote transformation in medicine and society, education on planetary health as well as further initiatives from the health sector are necessary.