Policy Brief: How to Stop the Next Pandemic
We are proud to announce the release of our latest policy brief on how to stop the next pandemic.
COVID-19 is a wake-up call and we need to act now. There is a global urgency to PREVENT the next pandemic and build resilience. This requires a committed and unified effort, with all countries and all sectors sharing the responsibility. Because, rather than COVID-19 being the peak in zoonosis emergence, experts predict that the next pandemic may well be even worse…
The WHO Annual Assembly has made calls to develop a new ‘International treaty for pandemic preparedness and response’. However, these calls do not make any mention of addressing the root causes of zoonotic pandemics (increased contact of people and livestock with wild animals, as a result of unsustainable land conversion and the illegal and poorly regulated legal trade in wildlife).
World Health Organisation: Toward a Pandemic Treaty Sept 10 2021
The brief ‘Addressing the root cause of zoonotic pandemics - protecting ecosystems and improving wildlife trade regulation’, makes a call for increased political and financial prioritisation to stop the destruction of nature. It targets policymakers in global health, finance and conservation, and the wildlife trade, making the following recommendations:
Establish an intergovernmental international council with governments, NGOs, businesses and Indigenous People on addressing the root causes of pandemics
Agree goals on integrating the One Health approach into government policies
Create a global fund focused on pandemic prevention, with the objective of strengthening actions to protect ecosystems and improve wildlife trade regulation
Commit to the goal of raising the $22-31 billion needed annually for pandemic prevention
Acquire financing from governments with additional contributions from the private sector
Distribute funds through Country Coordinating Mechanisms
Protect ecosystems and improve wildlife trade regulation through the global fund
Improve wildlife trade regulation in export, transit and import countries
Prioritise education, awareness and capacity building with Local Communities and other stakeholders
