by Kyle Teamey

Kyle Teamey is a Managing Partner in the Planetary Health space at RA Capital.

December 1, 2023

This article was originally published on LinkedIn.

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Our mission at RA Capital Management (RACM) is simple: to improve the health of each and every person in the world. Staying true to RACM’s mission, the Planetary Health team invests in profit-seeking companies that benefit people by improving the health of the planet.

The connection between our health and the health of our environment is clear. One out of every six deaths – nine million deaths every year – is linked to pollution. Environmental factors, including pollutants in the air, water, and soil, contribute to an incredible variety of ailments such as heart attacks, bronchitis, stroke, and cancer. Climate change is accelerating the spread of pathogens globally, contributing to heat stress deaths, and making it harder for everyone to live happy, productive lives. We could go on and on with many more examples. The bottom line is for people to be healthy, their environment must be healthy.

Sustaining healthy people on a healthy planet is one of the great challenges of this century – and one of the great opportunities. There will be nearly 10 billion people in the world by 2050. For people to thrive, we will need to deliver technologies that allow industry to use resources more productively (less waste and less pollution) and continue to expand access to abundant clean energy. People not only want material comforts, they also want clean air, clean water, and a stable climate for their families and themselves. The upshot is consumer demand will drive the adoption of technologies for planetary health and the growth of the markets in which we invest. We are seeking profitable outcomes because that will allow us to grow, to invest in more companies, and to bring further benefits to people.

Planetary Health: people, planet, profit.

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