WHO and France shift One Health vision to action with new high-impact initiatives

The urgency underpinning these declarations could not be more pronounced. Humanity faces an intricate web of interconnected crises, including accelerating climate change, widespread environmental degradation, threats to food safety, pervasive water contamination, catastrophic biodiversity loss, and persistent inequities in access to essential healthcare. These challenges collectively heighten the risk of disease emergence and spread. Scientific consensus indicates that approximately 60% of known human infectious diseases originate in animals, with a staggering 75% of emerging infectious diseases classified as zoonotic. The devastating impact of such interconnectedness was starkly illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in an estimated 15 million deaths globally and incurred trillions of dollars in economic losses between 2020 and 2021, underscoring the critical imperative for a paradigm shift in global health strategy.

The Evolving Imperative of One Health

The One Health approach, which acknowledges the intrinsic and inseparable links between human health, animal health, and ecosystem health, is not a new concept but has gained unprecedented traction in the wake of recent global health emergencies. Its roots trace back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with pioneers like Rudolf Virchow recognizing the interconnectedness of human and animal medicine. However, the modern articulation of One Health broadened significantly to encompass environmental factors, driven by mounting evidence of how ecological disruptions facilitate pathogen spillover. The core principle is that interventions must transcend traditional disciplinary silos, requiring collaborative efforts across human public health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and beyond. This integrated strategy is paramount for earlier detection of risks, swifter response mechanisms, and ultimately, more effective prevention of future crises.

The World Health Day theme for 2026, "Together for health. Stand with science," perfectly encapsulated the collaborative and evidence-based spirit that permeated the Paris Summit. It served as a powerful reminder that addressing complex global health challenges demands not only political will and inter-sectoral cooperation but also a steadfast commitment to scientific rigor and innovation.

A Chronology of Intensifying Focus

The Paris One Health Summit on World Health Day (April 7, 2026) represented a culmination of years of growing recognition and incremental advancements in the One Health paradigm. Following the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s and subsequent zoonotic threats like avian influenza (H5N1) and MERS-CoV, international bodies increasingly advocated for integrated approaches. The formation of the Quadripartite alliance—comprising the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—marked a significant milestone, formalizing a commitment to coordinated action across human, animal, and environmental health sectors. This summit was a direct outcome of the Quadripartite’s Joint Plan of Action, launched in 2022, which set ambitious targets for global health security. The event also ran in parallel with WHO’s inaugural Global Forum of Collaborating Centres, held from April 7-9, further emphasizing the role of scientific partnerships.

Global Leaders Affirm Commitment

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, articulated the fundamental premise driving the summit’s agenda: "The health of people, animals and the environment we share are inextricably interwoven, and we cannot protect one without protecting all three. 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." His statement underscored the interconnectedness that defines the One Health philosophy and the necessity of breaking down traditional organizational barriers.

As the host nation, France reaffirmed its unwavering leadership and commitment to advancing the One Health agenda. President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the high-level delegates, emphasized, "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. 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." President Macron’s remarks highlighted France’s resolve to champion international cooperation, foster global scientific partnerships, and catalyze practical, scalable solutions.

The summit brought together an impressive array of Heads of State, ministers, leading experts, and policymakers from diverse sectors, all united by a common objective. Discussions throughout the event highlighted how coordinated efforts are essential for strengthening international dialogue and mobilizing both public and private sector partners. The outcomes and strategic recommendations emerging from the Paris Summit are expected to significantly inform ongoing international discussions, including those within the G7, regarding preparedness strategies and coordinated responses to complex health threats at the human-animal-ecosystem interface.

WHO Unveils Four Major One Health Actions

In a significant stride towards operationalizing the One Health framework, WHO, in collaboration with its global partners, announced four specific, far-reaching initiatives:

1. A New Global Network of One Health Institutions: WHO is spearheading the establishment of a new Global Network of One Health Institutions. This ambitious initiative aims to mobilize multidisciplinary expertise worldwide to provide stronger, more coordinated support to countries in implementing the objectives outlined in the One Health Joint Plan of Action. The network will facilitate the translation of global guidance into practical tools and on-the-ground support, enhance training and peer learning through the WHO Academy and other relevant institutions, and create a clearer, country-focused delivery model for One Health implementation. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem of academic and research bodies, the network is poised to accelerate knowledge sharing and capacity building where it is most needed.

2. Stronger Science to Guide Global Action – OHHLEP Extension: Recognizing the critical role of scientific evidence, WHO and its Quadripartite partners announced the extension and expansion of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP). This esteemed scientific advisory body, a cornerstone of evidence-based One Health policy, will now see its mandate run through 2027, with plans for a new phase from 2027 to 2029. This extension reinforces OHHLEP’s pivotal role in shaping the global research agenda, providing scientific underpinning for the One Health Joint Plan of Action, and driving high-level advocacy grounded in robust scientific evidence. Its continued work is crucial for ensuring that policies and interventions are informed by the latest scientific understanding of complex human-animal-environment interactions.

3. A Renewed Push to Eliminate Rabies by 2030: In a powerful demonstration of targeted One Health action, WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the Institut Pasteur launched a renewed global initiative aimed at eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. Despite being a vaccine-preventable disease, rabies tragically claims nearly 60,000 lives annually, with a disproportionate number of victims being children in endemic regions across Asia and Africa. This initiative, led by endemic countries, will enhance political commitment, strengthen community-based surveillance, and boost research efforts. Furthermore, the rabies elimination program is envisioned as a model to bolster broader One Health surveillance and preparedness systems, showcasing how a focused disease control effort can yield systemic benefits for overall health security. The economic burden of rabies, estimated at several billion USD annually due to productivity losses and treatment costs, further underscores the urgency of this renewed push.

4. A Unified Strategy to Tackle Avian Influenza Threats: Responding to the escalating threat of avian influenza, particularly highly pathogenic strains like H5N1, WHO and Quadripartite partners presented a new Strategic Framework for Collaboration. This framework is designed to significantly strengthen coordination across surveillance, risk assessment, preparedness, and response activities. By promoting a unified One Health strategy, it aims to help countries transition from fragmented actions to a cohesive approach that addresses the wider impacts of avian influenza, encompassing not only public health but also food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation. Recent outbreaks, which have led to mass culling of poultry and sporadic human cases with high fatality rates, highlight the urgent need for such an integrated and proactive strategy.

WHO Assumes Enhanced Leadership Role in Quadripartite Collaboration

Further solidifying its commitment to integrated global health governance, WHO is assuming the Chairmanship of the Quadripartite collaboration, taking on an enhanced leadership role alongside FAO, WOAH, and UNEP. Under WHO’s stewardship, the Quadripartite partnership will prioritize delivering measurable impact at the country level, streamlining governance mechanisms, and aligning efforts around a focused set of high-impact priorities. This leadership shift is expected to further strengthen advocacy, norm-setting, and evidence generation within the One Health framework, ensuring that global guidance translates effectively into national and local action. This move underscores a collective recognition of WHO’s central role in coordinating health initiatives on a global scale.

Global Forum of Collaborating Centres Bolsters Scientific Foundation

Complementing the high-level policy discussions of the One Health Summit, WHO simultaneously kicked off its first Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs). This significant event, held from April 7-9, convened high-level representatives, including the Minister of Health of France, along with ministers from Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa, and over 800 WHO CCs from more than 80 countries. These collaborating centers are vital extensions of WHO, serving as leading academic and research institutions that support the organization’s work across various technical areas.

The Global Forum provided a forward-looking platform designed to deepen collaboration among these crucial scientific partners worldwide. Its objectives included accelerating scientific innovation, facilitating data sharing across borders and disciplines, fostering coordinated research initiatives, and building essential capacities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The synergy between the policy-focused One Health Summit and the science-driven Global Forum of Collaborating Centres sent an unequivocal message: tackling today’s complex health challenges demands not only stronger multilateral cooperation and political will but also substantial and sustained investment in science, research, and the effective translation of the One Health approach into concrete, actionable strategies at both global and local levels.

The confluence of these events in Paris represents a critical juncture in global health governance. By embedding the One Health approach into policy frameworks, strengthening scientific collaboration, and committing to specific, measurable actions against pressing threats like rabies and avian influenza, the international community is signaling a profound shift towards a more proactive, integrated, and resilient strategy for safeguarding the health of all life on Earth. The journey from ambition to full implementation will be challenging, requiring sustained funding, political commitment, and cross-sectoral collaboration, but the Paris Summit has undeniably set a clear and urgent course for the future.