GCPH Seminar Series 20: Seminar 3 - Governing the commercial determinants of planetary health inequity

In this talk Professor Friel explored ways to transform the consumptogenic system – the system of actors and institutions, policies, commercial activities and norms that incentivizes the excessive production and consumption of goods and services that are harming human health, widening social inequities and destroying the planet. 

With a specific focus on commercial practices, Professor Friel discussed the entrenched power inequities that ensure little effective political and policy attention is given to transform the consumptogenic system and act in the interests of human and planetary health. She explored the ideational, institutional and structural factors that have enabled the pervasive fetishism of market-forces, financialization, hyperglobalization, deregulation, and individualism, which entrench an exponential growth model, consumptogenic economic interests, and an individualised model of health. 

The talk concluded with a discussion of ways to recalibrate these power inequities such that planetary health equity goals are at the forefront of policy and action. Professor Friel highlighted the role of compelling narration of alternative ideas, strategic use of institutional processes, and social mobilization among like-minded and unusual bedfellows.