Our ocean is undergoing drastic changes. In the circumpolar north, this reality is highly visible. Social-ecological systems thinking informs that social and ecological systems are intertwined, yet hegemonic governance systems appear unable or unwilling to reorient themselves to promote planetary health amidst the climate crisis. To rethink our relationship with the ocean, I explore the research question, “What can I learn from Inuit perspectives about the ocean and marine governance within Inuit Nunangat, and how does this relate to planetary health?” This study applies critical theory methodologies. In particular, feminist standpoint theory informs the approach of engaging with knowledge and lived experience of marginalized or oppressed populations. Inuit knowledge in the form of a purposefully sampled collection of publicly available Inuit documents that relate to the marine environment is the primary evidence that informs analysis. Inuit produced declarations, websites, and reports are analysed using thematic analysis. This study does not depend on ethics review or community engagement; research using publicly available information is exempt from these ethical requirements. Nevertheless, the positionality I strive to embody is allyship with Inuit. Two main themes are interpreted from analysis. First, the meaning of the marine contains the key ideas: Inuit culture relies upon marine ecosystems; rapidly social-ecological systems have cultural implications; and environmental protection focuses on marine areas of significance. A rights-based approach reflects the assertions: Inuit are rightsholders not stakeholders; political equality is still hindered by systems of racism and oppression; and collaborative governance approaches are the path forward. Governance mechanisms that recognize Indigenous rights have the capacity to promote planetary health. Inuit self-determination is health promotion, supporting marine protection, equitable marine governance, and strengthening Inuit culture. Decision-making systems that are characterized by polycentricity, community collaboration, and a respect for Indigenous knowledge present a path forward. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Yes / Planetary health sees neoliberal capitalism as a key mediator of socioecological crises, a position that is echoed in much COVID-19 commentary. In this Personal View, I set out an economic theory that emphasises some of the ways in which neoliberal capitalism's conceptualisation of value has mediated responses to COVID-19. Using the intersection of ecological, feminist, and Marxist economics, I develop an analysis of neoliberal capitalism as a specific historical form of the economy. I identify the accumulation of exchange value as a central tendency of neoliberal capitalism and argue that this tendency creates barriers to the production of other forms of value. I then analyse the implications of this tendency in the context of responses to COVID-19. I argue that resources and labour flow to the production of exchange value, at the expense of production of other value forms. Consequently, the global capitalist economy has unprecedented productive capacity but uses little of this capacity to create the conditions that improve and maintain people's health. To be more resilient to coming crises, academics, policy makers, and activists should do theoretical work that enables global economies to recognise multiple forms of value and political work that embeds these theories in societal institutions.

Dietary choices present an important avenue for promoting food system sustainability. Research suggests that plant-based dietary patterns can have positive health effects and reduce environmental impacts. The Planetary Health Diet was proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission as a reference healthy and sustainable dietary pattern. A Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was developed for Brazil to measure adherence to Planetary Health Diet recommendations; however, a PHDI has not been developed and evaluated for the United States (U.S.) population. Additionally, relatively few studies have assessed dietary constructs related to sustainability among U.S. adults, including the construct of meat attachment (i.e., a positive bond toward eating meat) and willingness to reduce meat intake. These gaps informed three primary research objectives. First, develop and evaluate the PHDI for the U.S. (PHDI-US). Second, use the PHDI-US to measure American adherence to the Planetary Health Diet. Third, analyze differences in meat attachment and willingness to reduce meat intake by sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics in a southern U.S. population. Cross-sectional data from 4,741 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 were used for analyses. Validity and reliability tests were acceptable, with total PHDI-US and Health Eating Index-2015 scores being positively associated; concurrent-criterion validity analyses identifying significantly lower scores among males, everyday smokers, and younger adults; and Cronbach's alpha equaling 0.51. The average PHDI-US score was 38.7 out of 150, indicating that American diets are far from meeting Planetary Health Diet recommendations. Using the Meat Attachment Questionnaire (MAQ), levels of meat attachment, meat intake frequency, and willingness to reduce meat intake and follow a more plant-based diet were compared by gender, educational attainment, income, and age among 328 American adults. The two characteristics most associated with differences in MAQ scores were age and educational attainment, with younger adults and those with higher educational attainment having lower MAQ scores and greater willingness to follow a more plant-based diet. The results of these studies can help improve the design of interventions by providing a tool to quantitatively measure American adherence to the Planetary Health Diet and identifying that younger adults and those with higher educational attainment may be more receptive to adopting sustainable dietary patterns. / Doctor of Philosophy / Dietary choices present an important avenue for promoting food system sustainability. Research suggests that plant-based dietary patterns can have positive health effects and reduce environmental impacts. The Planetary Health Diet is a recommended healthy and sustainable dietary pattern. A Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was developed for Brazil to measure adherence to Planetary Health Diet recommendations; however, a PHDI has not been developed and evaluated for the United States (U.S.) population. Additionally, relatively few studies have assessed dietary constructs related to sustainability among U.S. adults, including the construct of meat attachment (i.e., a positive bond toward eating meat) and willingness to reduce meat intake. These gaps informed three research objectives. First, develop and evaluate the PHDI for the U.S. (PHDI-US). Second, use the PHDI-US to measure American adherence to the Planetary Health Diet. Third, analyze differences in meat attachment and willingness to reduce meat intake by sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics in a southern U.S. population. Data from 4,741 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 were used for analyses. Validity and reliability tests were acceptable, demonstrating that the PHDI-US can consistently measure dietary quality and sustainability in accordance with Planetary Health Diet recommendations. The average PHDI-US score was 38.7 out of 150, indicating that American diets are far from meeting Planetary Health Diet recommendations. Using the Meat Attachment Questionnaire (MAQ), levels of meat attachment, meat intake frequency, and willingness to reduce meat intake and follow a more plant-based diet were compared by gender, education level, income, and age among 328 American adults. Younger adults and those with a higher level of education had lower MAQ scores and greater willingness to follow a more plant-based diet. The results of these studies can help improve research studies by providing a tool to measure how closely American diets are meeting Planetary Health Diet recommendations and identifying that younger adults and those with a higher level of education may be more receptive to adopting sustainable dietary patterns.

The COVID-19 crisis represents a major disruption to societies across the planet, magnifying existing threats to social-ecological resilience. Illustrating these threats are links between inadequate water and sanitation services, climate stressors, and the challenge of coping with a global pandemic. In an urban context, water services are an intermediary between the built and natural environments, making sustainable water management a crucial aspect of cities’ resilience and efforts towards sustainable development. Yet, there is a growing need to understand how urban resilience functions across scales in order to develop sustainable transformations that align a city’s resilience goals with the wellbeing of its communities. Global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing water crisis threaten wellbeing beyond disease risk, highlighting the need for a broader understanding of risks that make communities vulnerable to such crises. Examining these connections within Cape Town, this case study investigates issues of water service delivery in low-income communities both before and during the pandemic. The city encounters increasing impacts of the climate crisis such as drought and flooding, while disadvantaged communities also experience basic service inequities. Existing problems involve leaking pipes, blocked drains, water contamination, and limited access to water taps and toilets. To understand how water issues could impact people’s wellbeing directly and indirectly, this thesis analyses perspectives of community members who describe their experiences with water-related risks. They speak of obstacles to daily tasks like cleaning and practicing basic hygiene, which are essential for disease prevention during a pandemic. However, the results indicate that water issues can also threaten wellbeing in less visible ways than immediate disease risk and can lead to psychological stress, social conflicts, and food insecurity. Identifying water-related risks through people’s own experiences is important for developing shared meanings of resilience for communities and the city as a whole. Risk management focusing on community-centred approaches to these challenges could help clarify how cities can collectively influence their own transformation. This thesis hopes to identify a broader scope of threats to community water justice and wellbeing, contributing to our understanding of urban resilience in a time of rising crises.