Geneva, April 8, 2025 – The Wildlife Conservation Society continues to be at the table in Geneva as the WHO nears the finalization of its groundbreaking International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. An agreement may be reached on Friday; and the World Health Assembly will convene on May 19-27th to consider final adoption.

Dr. Chris Walzer, Wildlife Conservation Society’s Executive Director of Health, said at a negotiators’ side event:

“As a representative of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a global conservation organization, which works at the intersection of wildlife health, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being, I recognize the immense potential of the draft WHO Pandemic Agreement to elevate primary prevention through a One Health approach. This agreement is a critical milestone—the first legally binding global effort to address the upstream drivers of pandemic risk by integrating human, animal, and environmental health.

“At WCS, we work collaboratively across sectors and disciplines, alongside our partners on the frontlines of spillover. Our transdisciplinary efforts reflect what the agreement aspires to: locally grounded, science-driven, and equity-focused strategies to reduce the risk of pathogen emergence at the source. We know from experience that preventing, preparing and responding to pandemics requires more than reactive measures—it demands addressing primary drivers such as land-use change, live wildlife markets in urban centers, biodiversity loss, and the climate emergency, which are in summary, recognized in the agreement.

“The draft treaty obligates member states to develop national pandemic prevention and surveillance plans, requiring multisectoral action and community engagement. It acknowledges that sustainable prevention must involve those most affected, particularly communities living closest to the human–animal–environment interfaces.

“Yet, despite this promise, real-world implementation faces hurdles—especially for lower-resourced countries who have championed One Health, such as my colleagues across Africa and at the Africa CDC, but often lack consistent financial and technical support. As our work in the field shows, intention must be matched with investment.

“Now more than ever: The agreement makes space for future protocols and guidelines through its Conference of the Parties, offering a living framework that can evolve with science, policy, and local realities.

“When adopted at the 2025 World Health Assembly, the Pandemic Agreement will be a powerful affirmation of multilateral commitment. It provides a foundation to not only advance primary pandemic prevention, but also to reinforce the values of collaboration, equity, and ecological stewardship that guide our work every day at WCS.”

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