Speech prepared for delivery at a press conference on the launch of the One Health High Level Expert Panel.
Excellency, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
Excellency, Mr Heiko Mass, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Germany
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO
Mr Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Dr. Monique Eloit, Director-General, OIE – World Organisation for Animal Health
Dr. Wanda Markotter and Dr. Thomas Mettenleiter, Co-Chairs of the One Health High Level Expert Panel
My thanks to the governments of France and Germany for their support.
To end the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution that threaten our peace and prosperity, we have to understand that human, animal and planetary health are one and the same. As Dr. Tedros pointed out, human health does not exist in a vacuum.
Illnesses that jump from animal to human as a result of degraded natural environments and unsustainable use of animal resources drive this message home – COVID-19 is the most devastating example of this.
We need a One Health approach. But let’s be honest. The weakest link in terms of our attention, research and investment in the animal-human-environmental continuum is environmental health. We must fix this. This means ending the over-exploitation of wildlife and natural resources. This means changing global dietary patterns. This means farming that is nature positive. This means finance flows that do not destroy nature. And this means investing in science, partnerships across disciplines and capacities so that we are able to prepare AND prevent the next pandemic.
It is precisely for this reason that I welcome the one health high level expert panel. As we tackle complex, multidisciplinary issues at the interface of human, animal and environmental health, we need a diversity of skill sets, knowledge, experiences, geographies and solutions. This panel breaks silos between disciplines and in so doing represents a fundamentally new approach to tackling the planetary challenges we face. We, at UNEP count on your invaluable scientific advice in exploring the role of ecosystem health in the well-being of people and animals.
I also welcome the opportunity to join as a member, the “Tripartite Alliance” of WHO, OIE and FAO and to deepen our bilateral partnership with OIE. UNEP can bring its networks and assets to the table. Data and science. Networks with ministries, multilateral environmental agreements we host, youth groups and so much more.
We can secure human, animal, and environment health. But only if we if we address them together and do the work together. And the mission could not be more important – because if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that we cannot be caught off-guard again. There is simply too much at stake.
Thank you.
Executive Director
