PlanetHealth Project

A planetary health approach to sustainable travel medicine

PlanetHealth: A Sustainable Travel Medicine Project

Launched: December 2024
Study Sites: Switzerland & Australia
Lead Institutions: University of Zurich, Travel Medicine Network of Australia
PI: Andrea Farnham

Project Summary

Travel is one of the largest contributors to the global carbon footprint. While sustainable tourism is gaining attention, the field of travel medicine has lagged behind in integrating planetary health perspectives into its core mission.

The PlanetHealth project aims to reshape how we think about international travel—not just as a personal experience, but as a behavioral opportunity to minimize environmental impact and promote global health. From antibiotic misuse abroad to sunscreen harming coral reefs, travelers make daily choices that affect ecosystems and public health.

Why This Matters

  • Antibiotic Resistance: Overuse of antibiotics abroad can drive resistance, especially in countries with looser regulations.
  • Environmental Waste: Improper disposal of medicines and travel packaging contributes to pollution.
  • Carbon Emissions: Frequent flights and high-impact behaviors amplify each traveler’s carbon footprint.
  • Behavioral Gaps: Travel clinics provide advice—but adherence is often poor once travelers depart.

This project aims to understand not just what travelers do, but why—and how to change it.

Objectives

The main goals of the PlanetHealth project are to:

  1. Identify common travel behaviors with significant environmental and public health impact.
  2. Understand psychological barriers and beliefs that prevent more sustainable choices.
  3. Evaluate the role of cost and accessibility in shaping eco-friendly health behaviors during travel.
  4. Apply behavioral theory (particularly the Health Action Process Approach) to model and improve behavior change.
  5. Generate evidence-informed interventions that can be implemented in real-world travel medicine practice.

Methods

  • Design: Cross-sectional international survey (15–20 minutes)
  • Recruitment: QR code posters in travel clinics (Switzerland & Australia)
  • Incentive: CHF 50 Transa gift card raffle (5 winners)
  • Analysis: Descriptive statistics, LASSO regression, interdisciplinary workshop

Partners

  • University of Zurich Travel Clinic (Zurich, Switzerland)
  • Travel Medicine Network of Australia (>30 clinics)
  • Key Researchers:
    • Andrea Farnham (Zurich)
    • Luis Furuya Kanamori (Australia)
    • Walter Bierbauer (Behavioral Psychology)

Expected Outcomes

  • Identification of key behaviors that contribute to poor planetary health during travel
  • Evidence for feasible, impactful interventions
  • New frameworks for integrating sustainability into pre-travel counseling
  • A peer-reviewed publication, and a roadmap for future interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Development of practical tools for eco-conscious travel habits

“Travel medicine should empower healthier people—and a healthier planet.”

Contact

For more information or to collaborate:

📧 andrea.farnham@uzh.ch
🌍 andrea-farnham.gitlab.io

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