The World Health Organization and France hosted the One Health Summit in Geneva on World Health Day 2026, launching new high-impact initiatives to protect human, animal, and environmental health through the One Health approach.
The One Health approach recognises the intricate links between human, animal, and environmental health, and the new initiatives announced at the Summit aim to address urgent global challenges such as climate change, zoonotic diseases, and health inequities. The WHO and France have committed to working together to prevent future pandemics and promote sustainable development, with a focus on improving health systems and enhancing global coordination. The Summit brought together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the One Health approach and to identify key areas for action. The new initiatives announced at the Summit include the development of new tools and technologies to detect and respond to emerging health threats, as well as the establishment of new partnerships and collaborations to support the implementation of the One Health approach.
The One Health approach is critical in today's global health landscape, where the risk of zoonotic diseases and pandemics is increasing due to factors such as climate change, urbanisation, and globalisation. The WHO has warned that the world is facing a growing threat from zoonotic diseases, which can spread from animals to humans, and that a coordinated approach is needed to prevent and respond to these threats. The One Health approach provides a framework for this coordination, bringing together experts from human, animal, and environmental health to share knowledge, expertise, and resources. By adopting the One Health approach, countries can reduce the risk of pandemics, promote sustainable development, and improve health outcomes for humans, animals, and the environment.
The launch of the new initiatives at the One Health Summit marks an important step forward in the implementation of the One Health approach, and is expected to have significant implications for global health policy and practice. The WHO and France are calling on other countries and stakeholders to join them in supporting the One Health approach, and to commit to working together to address the urgent global challenges facing human, animal, and environmental health. The next steps will involve the development of new tools and technologies, the establishment of new partnerships and collaborations, and the implementation of the new initiatives announced at the Summit. The success of these efforts will depend on the ability of countries and stakeholders to work together, share knowledge and expertise, and commit to a coordinated approach to protecting human, animal, and environmental health.
