Lyon – On World Health Day, 7 April 2026, global leaders convened in France for a milestone One Health Summit, where the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners announced a new wave of concrete initiatives designed to protect people, animals, and the environment from future health crises.
Hosted by France, the Summit marks a critical step in moving the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, from concept to practical implementation. The theme for this year’s World Health Day, “Together for health. Stand with science,” framed the discussions and guided the announcement of the new initiatives.
The urgency of strengthening global health systems is underscored by contemporary threats including climate change, environmental degradation, unsafe food, water contamination, biodiversity loss, and unequal access to health care. WHO highlights that approximately 60 percent of known infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, with nearly 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases classified as zoonotic. The COVID-19 pandemic alone caused an estimated 15 million deaths worldwide and triggered trillions of dollars in economic losses, demonstrating the need for integrated strategies to prevent similar crises in the future.
“The health of people, animals, and the environment we share are inextricably interwoven, and we cannot protect one without protecting all three,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “The One Health approach brings together expertise to work across silos and sectors to prevent and respond to threats more effectively. WHO thanks France for hosting this Summit, and we remain committed to working with partners and countries to turn commitment into action and accelerate global progress for humans, animals, and our planet.”
French leadership in One Health was reinforced during the Summit, with President Emmanuel Macron emphasizing the necessity of coordinated action.
“One Health is not just about protecting health, it is about recognizing that we live as one system, where the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment is inseparable,” Macron said. “France is determined to move One Health from ambition to implementation, working with the World Health Organization and our global partners to prevent the next crisis before it begins. Science must guide our action, and cooperation must be our strength.”
The Summit brought together Heads of State, ministers, experts, and policymakers to discuss strategies for strengthening international dialogue and mobilizing public and private partners. The outcomes are expected to inform ongoing discussions at multilateral forums, including the G7, on preparedness and coordinated responses to health threats at the interface of humans, animals, and ecosystems.
WHO announced four major actions to operationalize the One Health vision. The first is the creation of a Global Network of One Health Institutions, in collaboration with the Quadripartite partners: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This network is intended to mobilize multidisciplinary expertise, provide stronger country-level support, and translate global guidance into practical tools and on-the-ground assistance. The initiative will also leverage training and peer-learning platforms, including the WHO Academy, to create a clear, country-focused model for implementing One Health strategies.
The second initiative focuses on strengthening science to guide global action. WHO and the Quadripartite partners have extended the mandate of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) through 2027. A subsequent phase is planned for 2027–2029. OHHLEP, the world’s leading scientific advisory body on One Health, will continue to shape the global research agenda, support the One Health Joint Plan of Action, and drive high-level advocacy grounded in evidence.
The third initiative is a renewed global campaign to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, launched jointly by WHO, WOAH, and the Institut Pasteur. Rabies remains a significant public health challenge, causing nearly 60,000 deaths annually, predominantly among children. The initiative emphasizes political commitment, community-based surveillance, and research, using rabies elimination as a model for strengthening broader One Health surveillance and preparedness systems.
The fourth initiative introduces a Strategic Framework for Collaboration on Avian Influenza, designed to unify global actions in surveillance, risk assessment, preparedness, and response. The framework aims to reduce fragmented approaches and promote a coordinated strategy that addresses public health risks, food security, and biodiversity impacts from avian influenza.
In addition to these initiatives, WHO will assume the Chairmanship of the Quadripartite collaboration, taking an enhanced leadership role alongside FAO, WOAH, and UNEP. Under WHO’s leadership, the partnership will prioritize measurable country-level impact, streamline governance, and focus resources on a core set of high-impact priorities while strengthening advocacy, norm-setting, and evidence generation.
Alongside the Summit, WHO convened the first Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) from 7–9 April. The Forum brought together over 800 representatives from WHO CCs in more than 80 countries, alongside high-level officials including the Health Ministers of France, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa, and the Vice-Minister of Health of Japan. The Forum provides a platform for academic and research institutions worldwide to collaborate, share data, coordinate research, and build capacity to accelerate innovation and scientific progress within the One Health framework.
Experts attending the Summit highlighted the importance of translating One Health commitments into tangible outcomes. Coordinated efforts across human, animal, and environmental health sectors are expected to improve early detection of emerging risks, And also strengthen preparedness and response systems, and enhance countries’ ability to address complex, interrelated health challenges. By aligning scientific guidance with practical implementation, the initiatives aim to reduce the likelihood of future pandemics and zoonotic disease outbreaks.
