Regenerative economics for planetary health: A scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between humans and our planet is conditioned by an economic system that undermines rather than supports health. There has been an emerging focus on the relationship between economic structures and planetary health, but alternative economic approaches to support health for people and the planet require further development. Regenerative economics offers a compelling approach to transform humankind’s relationships with each other and their environment. Regenerative economics fosters grounded, pragmatic solutions to wider human and ecological crises that moves beyond a sustainability discourse towards one of regeneration. While there are, notionally, large areas of overlap between regenerative economics and planetary health, to date these have not been systematically articulated. Methods: A scoping review was performed to examine the background, principles, and applications of regenerative economics, and their implications for planetary health. Five databases (SCOPUS, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Geobase, IEEE Xplore) were searched for peer-reviewed literature using key terms relating to regenerative economics and planetary health. Findings were reported using thematic synthesis. Results: The review identified a total of 121 articles and included 30 papers in the final review, from economics, industrial design, business, tourism, education, urban design and architecture, energy, technology, and food and agriculture. The principles of regenerative economics focused on people, place, planet, position, peace, plurality, and progress. Putting these principles into action requires identifying and valuing different forms of capital, taking a dynamic systems approach, applying regenerative design, developing a true circular economy, good governance, and transdisciplinary education and advocacy. Conclusions: While the principles of regenerative economics and planetary health are well aligned, the tools and actions of each field differ substantially. Planetary health can learn from regenerative economics’ grounding in natural design principles, systems-based approaches, actions at the right scale and cadence, respect for diversity, community and place, and mindset that moves beyond sustainability towards a regenerative future.

The presence of circular (bio)economy in the environmental investment projects of the Western Balkan countries

“…Innovation policy measures aim to optimize the value network of the bioeconomy and minimize waste and losses. The circular economy represents a regenerative economic system (see: Shannon et al, 2022;Jain, 2021) in which complete production proces (i.e. product life cycle) is based on rational and efficent resource exploatation, waste minimization and energetic efficiency path.…”

Planet.Health: An Ecosystem Approach to Imagine and Coordinate for Planetary Health Futures

“…Planet.Health builds on this, drawing on a plurality of traditional and technological tools to enhance imagination and coordination for planetary health. Diverse approaches such as the creative arts [10], blockchain technologies [11], artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented/virtual reality (A/VR) [12], traditional modalities such as breathwork and meditation [13], community currencies and localised economies [14], bioregionalism [15], and community mobilisation [16] represent promising means to transform our relationship with the planet and unlock new possibilities for planetary health. Through experimenting with these strategies, Planet.Health aims to develop new ways of social organising for shared action towards the common good.…”