In this chapter, an introduction is given to issues in health, environment
and sustainable development which are of worldwide concern today.
Countries face a myriad of problems relating on the one hand to poverty
and a lack of basic services, and on the other to large-scale, rapid
industrialization, urbanization and technological development. Problems
are often simultaneously local and global. Key milestones which have
shaped recent thinking and approaches to dealing with health and
environmental problems in the context of sustainable development are
highlighted, and the challenges faced by the health sector are outlined.