- The Franklin Tello Hospital (HFT), located in the Amazon Basin, has embraced the concept of Planetary Health since its establishment in 1945. The connection between human health and the health of the planet guides its clinical practice, considering cultural, social, and economic dimensions.
- The Planetary Health Research Center, based at HFT and led by the Pondera Foundation, coordinates the efforts of a significant network of international universities investigating the effects of oil extraction, mining, and Amazon deforestation on planetary health.
- The Pondera Foundation is launching the Green Friday campaign as part of its Breathe Green Reforestation Project, aiming to raise awareness about responsible consumption, foster local economic transformation in the Amazon, restore ecosystems, and promote CO2 offsetting to improve global health..
This autumn’s severe weather events across Europe, including multiple storms and the DANA phenomenon, have caused irreparable pain with the loss of over 240 lives and left thousands in dire conditions due to material damages. Much of the scientific community attributes these climatological events and natural disasters to rising sea temperatures and suggests that their severity could have been mitigated through better urban and territorial planning. Regardless of the scientific or technical explanations, human activity remains the prime suspect for the devastating consequences of these meteorological phenomena, despite ongoing societal debate and the lack of unanimous consensus.
However, there is some agreement and evidence regarding the negative impact of the current consumption-driven economic system on natural resources. While climate change is often viewed as an abstract concept, its tangible effects are undeniable in cases of human-induced environmental damage.
One such case is the historically poor oil extraction practices in the Amazon rainforest, where the repercussions on the health, culture, and well-being of affected Indigenous communities have been extensively documented, albeit insufficiently disseminated.
In other words, the environmental assessment of oil, mining, and deforestation activities cannot be viewed in isolation from the social context. It must take into account the relationship between the health of natural ecosystems and the well-being of the people who depend on them.
From an ecological perspective, between 1964 and 1990, a single oil concession was responsible for discharging 18 billion gallons (nearly seven billion liters) of toxic waste into nearby waters. Operating 339 wells, this concession polluted the Ecuadorian Amazon through: 1. The creation of 916 open toxic waste pits. 2. The burning of billions of cubic liters of gas. 3. The spillage of 17 million gallons (approximately 64.352 billion liters) of crude oil into the environment.. (1)
As a result of exposure to contaminants from oil fields, nearby populations face significantly higher health risks, including a 130% increase in cancer prevalence, a 150% rise in spontaneous abortions, and in the case of cancer, a 260% higher mortality rate among men compared to unexposed populations.(2)
For over six years, the Pondera Foundation has been committed to health, supporting the healthcare of 13 million people across Cameroon, Ethiopia, the D.R. Congo, Ecuador, and Peru. Today, it takes another step forward, launching an initiative to care for the health of both people and nature.
According to Francisco Javier Valbuena, president of the foundation: “Human health and the health of our planet are intrinsically linked. Our future as a species depends on the well-being of natural ecosystems and their wise management. This is why we have partnered with the Franklin Tello Hospital to promote what we call Planetary Health research.”
Since 2022, the president of the Pondera Foundation has been a member of the Board of Directors at the Planetary Health Research Center in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where he coordinates the activities of a major network of international universities investigating the impact of oil extraction, mining, and deforestation on Planetary Health.
Starting today, the Pondera Foundation and the Planetary Health Research Center are also launching an initiative to restore natural ecosystems through reforestation. This initiative aims not only to be a global environmental restoration effort but also to establish an economic activity that provides local communities with livelihoods independent of extractive industries operating in the region.
The project is locally coordinated by Monsignor Adalberto Jiménez Mendoza, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Aguarico and president of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) in Ecuador, an organization dedicated to protecting the Amazon and its inhabitants while promoting integral ecology.
The initiative’s Spanish launch coincides with Green Friday and is supported by the website https://breathegreenproject.org/, encouraging Spaniards to adopt more responsible consumption habits during Black Friday and offset their carbon footprint by sponsoring a tree for €5 per month. This not only supports the economic transformation of the Ecuadorian Amazon but also restores territories and offsets CO2 emissions, benefiting everyone’s health.
(1) DÁMASO JAVIER VICENTE BLANCO, Professor of Private International Law, University of Valladolid. *The Chevron vs. Ecuador Case: An Overview—The International Investment Protection System as a Shield Against Human Rights Violations.*
(2) Instituto de Epidemiología y Salud Comunitaria “Manuel Amunárriz.” *Yana Curi Report: Impact of Oil Activity on the Health of Rural Populations in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Discover more about the Pondera Foundation:
The Pondera Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to international cooperation in healthcare management. It develops projects across various African and American countries, actively supporting the healthcare of 13 million people in Cameroon, Ethiopia, the D.R. Congo, Ecuador, and Peru.
Breathe Green is a Pondera Foundation project aiming to restore ecosystems and promote the economic transformation of the Amazon through reforestation, education, and healthcare initiatives. Its implementation is expected to offset 750,000 tons of CO2, benefiting everyone’s health.
The Pondera Foundation is a member of the Spanish Association of Foundations, Foundations for Climate, the Planetary Health Alliance in Washington, and the ECHAlliance in the UK. It collaborates actively with Madrid’s digital health cluster and is part of the Spanish Society of Health Directors.
