Emerging environmental health threats can lead to an imbalance in the surrounding aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial ecosystems, which can ultimately influence human and animal health. The World Health Organization has recently recognized 13 threats to public health – such as air pollution, spread of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, and unprepared health systems during epidemics or crises – that will require significant global investment to quantify risk, implement mitigation actions, and build community and environmental resiliency. To address this burden, novel data sources – ranging from remote sensing data and technology to citizen science applications – can offer valuable insight to multidisciplinary teams as they examine health-related hazards, identify high-risk populations, and develop action plans that strengthen community preparedness. In this presentation, we will define the One Health concept and highlight the essential role of multidisciplinary collaborations in environmental health applications that improve our understanding of the global ecosystem. We will describe examples of innovative data sources (NASA/ESA/JAXA Earth Observing Dashboard) and collaborations (Group of Earth Observations’ Health Community of Practice) that have facilitated the integration of cross-cutting science for robust One Health collaborations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The integration of various data sources can provide air quality managers and other community stakeholders with up-to-date scientific evidence that can guide their educational outreach activities and enhance their environmental health decision-making.
