Fossil Health: Deconstructing the Health and Energy Relationship to Reimagine a Viable Future.

Abstract

In an era of socio-ecological crisis, the dominant cultural narratives of the Anthropocene paradoxically reinforce a deep reliance on fossil fuels. These systems profoundly shape modern life, including our most fundamental conceptions of health. This article argues that societal conceptions of health in the Global North are constituted within, and constrained by, fossil-fuelled paradigms. To analyse this lock-in, we propose Fossil Health as a conceptual tool designed to show how fossil fuel dependency perpetuates productivist and unsustainable notions of health. By applying this lens through an integration of political ecology, sociology, and public health, we trace its manifestations across healthcare systems, policies, behaviours, and daily practices. Ultimately, transcending this cycle is essential for re-imagining more equitable and ecologically-attuned relationships between society, nature, and health.