In recent years the use of plastics has increased exponentially. Due to their low capacity for degradation and low recycling (approximately 9%) plastic compounds have accumulated in the marine environment where erosion processes fragment and break them into microparticles that contaminate the water, harm marine fauna, and are ultimately ingested by humans. Various studies have reported the presence of microplastics in different components of marine ecosystems such as sediments, water, organisms, and even air.

As indicated by various scientific organizations—the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the World Health Organization, and World Wide Fund for Nature, among others, the earth is in an accelerated process of socio-environmental degradation. This is due to the enormous quantity of greenhouse gases that humanity has poured into the atmosphere for more than two centuries which has resulted in anthropogenic global warming, the sixth mass extinction of the species, and a generalized contamination of air, water, and soil.

From a global standpoint, the interplay between air quality and climate change represents a critical environmental issue, with profound implications for health, ecosystems, and economies across the planet. This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the complex interplay between air pollution and climate change, examining their sources, impacts, and strategies for mitigation. It delves into the direct and indirect health effects of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of different populations.

This chapter includes a brief overview of the historical development of public health and the emergence of the planetary health movement. Since the 1960s, human behavior has been central to public health concerns and functions.

Nanomaterials have become an important area of research for scientists worldwide for their application in energy generation, energy conversion, and energy storage, self-powered devices, etc. It is in high need to find alternate energy sources to the traditional ones for a sustainable environment. Therefore it is important to work on using the excellent properties of nanomaterials to conquer the limitations in selecting materials and fabrication techniques for efficient energy generation instruments to substitute conventional energy storage and energy sources.

Solar panels are a good alternative to fossil fuels. However, despite their numerous advantages, their most important limitation is dependence on environmental conditions. To solve this problem, energy storage systems are used with solar panels. To set a fixed output voltage requires designing a strong switching system to use stored energy when solar energy drops below the required value due to environmental conditions, and to store it in a storage system when there is a surplus of solar energy.

This chapter intends to systematize the trends and approaches that will inspire local policymaking in response to climate change challenges and to meet European guidelines and recommendations for sustainable development and quality of life improvement. The analysis explores relevant components for promoting health and sustainable behavior, namely smart living, smart health (as a part of the smart economy), and smart governance (i.e., participatory, anticipatory, and innovative).

This study reports physiological stress in restored corals, highlighting the importance of coral microbiomes for conservation and restoration.

Countries in the tropics, and populations disadvantaged based on gender, ethnicity, and caste, are more vulnerable to extreme heat. This Commentary discusses interventions to help address inequity and deal with extreme heat.

This content aligns with Goal 3: Good Health and Goal 5: Gender Equity by examining the particular impact of climate change on women in South Asia.