Is there collective health without socio-environmental and climate justice?

Abstract

Collective health understands the health–disease process as a result of the social, economic, political, and environmental conditions that structure life in society. In a context marked by the intensification of environmental degradation and the global climate crisis, it becomes necessary to question whether it is possible to promote collective health without confronting the socio-environmental inequalities that produce illness at the population level. This article aims to critically discuss the interrelations between environment, inequality, and health, highlighting the central role of socio-environmental and climate justice in promoting health in the 21st century. It is a theoretical-analytical essay grounded in the critical tradition of Latin American collective health, developed through a narrative review of scientific literature and institutional documents on social determinants of health, environmental justice, and climate change. The analysis shows that environmental and climate impacts are unevenly distributed across territories, disproportionately affecting historically marginalized populations such as Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, rural workers, and residents of urban peripheries. These processes increase health risks, including infectious diseases, respiratory conditions, food insecurity, psychological distress, and population displacement. It is argued that the climate crisis should be understood not only as an environmental problem, but also as a health, social, and ethical crisis. The article concludes that there can be no collective health without socio-environmental and climate justice, since health promotion depends on ensuring ecologically balanced environments, reducing social inequalities, and implementing intersectoral public policies guided by territorial equity and sustainability.