Leaders and experts gathered in London to discuss the intersection of human and planetary health and evolve an approach that addresses the need to balance and optimise the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems in the face of climate change
Global leaders, policymakers, and experts convened recently at the Commonwealth Secretariat's London headquarters to address the critical intersection of human and planetary health in the face of escalating climate change.
Organised by the Secretariat and PATH, the event titled "One Health Approach: Moving from Siloed Thinking to Smart and Systemic Action" featured a keynote address by the Former Prime Minister of Australia and Chairperson of the Wellcome Trust, Hon Julia Gillard.
In her keynote address, Gillard highlighted the role of the Commonwealth in advocating for global health, stressing the importance of coordinated action to strengthen health systems through a 'One Health' approach. This approach emphasises an integrated strategy that balances and optimises the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems.
In collaboration with PATH, the Commonwealth Secretariat has established an Accelerator for Resilience in Climate-Health (ARCH). It is an end-to-end accelerator platform that scopes, finances, and deploys technologies for climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience to improve public health outcomes in the 56 Commonwealth nations and other high-burden countries.
In her opening remarks, Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, emphasised the urgent need for collaborative efforts to combat climate change, stating that a paradigm shift was required, which transcends traditional silos to achieve a more holistic approach, which places the well-being of all life and ecosystems at the forefront of collective efforts.