Presentation short abstract

This presentation unpacks how One Health’s epistemic underpinnings shape global environmental health research and policy, and argues that healthy green transitions cannot be just if the knowledge guiding them is not diverse.

Presentation long abstract

Knowledge shapes how environmental public health challenges are understood and addressed, yet not all knowledge is treated equally. Using the One Health framework, which links human, animal, and ecosystem health, this presentation examines how these dynamics unfold and the consequences they hold for shaping research agendas and policies.

One Health is guided by epistemic foundations that show a WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) domination. This influences which evidence is valued, and which health solutions are pursued, risking the marginalization of “other(ed)” knowledge and according practices.

Through analysis of research procedures, policy developments, and decision-making narratives, the presentation highlights how epistemic hierarchies within the framework produce environmental injustices, limiting the effectiveness of green transition strategies.

It is argued that diversifying the epistemic basis of One Health is essential for targeting the most pressing challenges of healthy green transitions, such as climate change. While incorporating multiple ways of knowing and being makes solution-finding more complex, it can also produce more nuanced and context-sensitive approaches that are necessary for a healthy, green, and just transition.