Journal Name: Lancet Planetary Health
Journal Type: Q1
ISSN: 25425196
Country: Netherlands
Subject Area and Category: Medicine Health Policy Medicine (miscellaneous) Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Social Sciences Health (social science)
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Research Ranking: 60
Publication Type: Journals
H-Index: 90
Coverage: 2017-2025
Editors-in-Chief: Sam Hinsley
Research Impact Score: 12.7
Impact Factor: 5.057
SCIMAGO SJR: 6.386
APC Cost: USD 6,680
Submission Link: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-lancet-planetary-health/
Contact Email: planetaryhealth@lancet.com
Address: London, UK
Overview
The Lancet Planetary Health is a prominent, peer-reviewed journal that sits at the critical intersection of human health and environmental sustainability. Published by The Lancet, one of the world’s most respected medical journals, The Lancet Planetary Health serves as a platform for interdisciplinary research and discourse focused on how the natural systems that support life on Earth also influence human health outcomes.
What Is The Lancet Planetary Health?
Launched in 2017, The Lancet Planetary Health is part of the wider “planetary health” movement—a concept that acknowledges the deep interconnectedness between human health and the health of the planet. This journal seeks to highlight research that explores how environmental change, climate instability, biodiversity loss, and other global ecological trends impact human well-being and public health systems.
The journal covers a wide range of topics, including:
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Climate change and health
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Urbanization and sustainable living
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Air and water quality
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Food systems and nutrition
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Infectious disease ecology
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Environmental policy and public health governance
Its aim is to inform evidence-based policy and foster global collaboration to address these pressing planetary-scale health challenges.
Why Is The Lancet Planetary Health Important?
As environmental degradation accelerates, its consequences for public health have become more urgent and visible. From rising rates of respiratory disease linked to air pollution, to malnutrition driven by unsustainable food systems, The Lancet Planetary Health provides vital insights into these global problems. The journal is instrumental in shaping discourse around sustainable development, environmental justice, and equitable health outcomes.
Its articles often serve as foundational resources for policymakers, NGOs, and researchers, especially those working on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Key Features and Impact
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Open Access: The journal is open access, ensuring that researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers around the world can freely access critical information.
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High Impact Factor: With a strong reputation and increasing citations, The Lancet Planetary Health is considered a high-impact journal in both environmental and medical research fields.
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Editorial Excellence: Backed by The Lancet's rigorous peer-review standards and editorial oversight, the journal maintains high scientific integrity.
Who Should Read It?
This journal is essential for:
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Environmental scientists
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Public health professionals
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Policymakers and urban planners
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Medical researchers
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Students and educators in global health and environmental studies
About
The Lancet Planetary Health is a leading open-access journal that focuses on the connections between human health and the state of the natural environment. Published by The Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious medical publishers, The Lancet Planetary Health plays a vital role in advancing research and policy at the intersection of environmental science, public health, and sustainability.
Understanding The Lancet Planetary Health
Launched in 2017, The Lancet Planetary Health is part of the growing field of planetary health, which emphasizes that human well-being is closely tied to the health of Earth's natural systems. This innovative journal is dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research that explores how global environmental changes—such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and land degradation—affect human health.
By bridging environmental science and medical research, the journal provides a platform for interdisciplinary studies that can inform both public policy and clinical practice.
Key Focus Areas of The Lancet Planetary Health
The journal covers a broad range of critical topics, including:
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Climate Change and Health: How rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and changing ecosystems influence disease patterns and public health outcomes.
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Food Systems and Nutrition: Research on sustainable agriculture, food security, and the health impacts of dietary changes.
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Air and Water Pollution: Studies that examine how exposure to pollutants affects physical and mental health.
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Urbanization and Infrastructure: Exploring how urban planning and development affect environmental sustainability and human well-being.
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Infectious Diseases and Ecosystems: Understanding how human encroachment into natural habitats increases the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks.
Why The Lancet Planetary Health Matters
As the world faces complex and interconnected crises—from global warming to pandemics—The Lancet Planetary Health provides essential insights to guide evidence-based solutions. Its research supports the development of policies that promote environmental sustainability while protecting public health.
This journal is especially important for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 13: Climate Action
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SDG 15: Life on Land
Who Should Read The Lancet Planetary Health?
The journal is a must-read for:
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Public health professionals
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Environmental scientists
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Medical researchers
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Policy makers
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Urban planners
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Academics and students in global health and sustainability fields
Whether you are working in healthcare, academia, government, or non-profit organizations, The Lancet Planetary Health offers the latest, most relevant research to support informed decision-making.
Scope
The Lancet Planetary Health is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that explores the vital relationship between human health and the Earth's natural systems. As part of the renowned Lancet family of medical journals, its scope is broad, multidisciplinary, and global in reach. The journal is committed to publishing high-quality research that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity and the planet today.
What Is the Scope of The Lancet Planetary Health?
The core scope of The Lancet Planetary Health lies in planetary health—a field that recognizes that human health and the health of our environment are deeply interconnected. The journal seeks to publish work that explores how global environmental change impacts health outcomes, social systems, and health equity.
Key areas within the journal’s scope include:
1. Climate Change and Health
One of the most urgent topics covered by the journal is how climate change affects health. This includes research on heat-related illnesses, the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, food insecurity due to climate disruption, and mental health impacts from climate anxiety and displacement.
2. Pollution and Environmental Degradation
The Lancet Planetary Health publishes studies on the health effects of air, water, and soil pollution. This includes the impact of industrial emissions, microplastics, water contamination, and exposure to hazardous chemicals—issues that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
3. Food Systems, Nutrition, and Agriculture
The journal explores how agricultural practices, food supply chains, and dietary trends influence both the environment and human nutrition. It supports research on sustainable diets, food security, and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.
4. Urban Health and Sustainable Cities
Urbanization is a major global trend, and the journal covers how city planning, transportation, green spaces, and infrastructure design can promote health while reducing environmental footprints.
5. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Another key focus is the role of biodiversity in maintaining healthy ecosystems that provide services essential for life—such as clean air, fresh water, and disease regulation. The journal investigates how biodiversity loss increases human exposure to new diseases and disrupts ecological balance.
6. Social Justice and Health Equity
Environmental issues often have the greatest impact on marginalized populations. The journal emphasizes equity, social determinants of health, and the need for policies that protect the most vulnerable. This includes Indigenous perspectives, environmental justice, and global governance.
7. Policy and Governance
The Lancet Planetary Health is also a platform for analysis of policy initiatives, legal frameworks, and international agreements that affect environmental and human health outcomes.