Decision COP 15/29

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decisions XII/21, XIII/6 and 14/4 on biodiversity and health and decision XIII/3 on the mainstreaming and integration of biodiversity within and across sectors,

Recalling also the Sharm El-Sheikh declaration on the theme of “Investing in biodiversity for people and planet” and the Kunming declaration on the theme of “Ecological civilization: building a shared future for all life on Earth”,

Noting resolution 76/300 entitled “The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment” adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, and resolution 50/13 entitled “Access to medicines, vaccines and other health products in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” adopted by the Human Rights Council,

Noting also resolution 5/6 on biodiversity and health of the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme,

Taking note of the definition of One Health by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel:

“One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.”

Noting that this definition has not been discussed or agreed by the Conference of the Parties or by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meetings of the Parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols,

Noting also the One Health Joint Plan of Action by the Quadripartite for One Health (comprising the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme),

Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of the relationship between health and well-being, and biodiversity, including the urgent need to reduce pressures on habitats, and to decrease ecosystem degradation and consequently reduce the risk of pathogen spillover and outbreaks, the importance of early warning, surveillance and prompt information-sharing for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and the need to address inequities in global health, including with respect to equitable access to medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical equipment,

Recognizing also the relevance of sustainable consumption and production patterns on biodiversity and health linkages,

Recognizing further that the One Health approach, among other holistic approaches, could contribute to the reduction of the risk of diseases of zoonotic origin, vector-borne and other infectious diseases, and to health and well-being for all, also recognizing the need for the equitable access to tools and technologies including medicines, vaccines and other health products required to implement the One Health approach and other holistic approaches,

Taking note of the 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services stating that zoonotic and vector-borne diseases are significant threats to human health, and that emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, domestic animals, plants or people can be exacerbated by human activities,

Emphasizing the critical role of genetic resources, digital sequence information on genetic resources, and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, in the research and development of health products and services, and the importance of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization in this regard, in line with the Convention and its Protocols, as applicable and in a mutually supportive manner with other relevant international agreements and instruments,

Noting ongoing efforts to draft and negotiate a World Health Organization convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, as well as ongoing negotiations on potential amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005), and the need to be consistent with, and not run counter to, the objectives of the Convention and its Protocols,

1. Encourages Parties and their subnational and local governments, and invites other Governments, in accordance with national circumstances and priorities, where appropriate, and relevant stakeholders:

2. Invites the Quadripartite for One Health, the One Health High-Level Expert Panel, and other relevant expert groups and initiatives:

3. Invites the Global Environment Facility, in accordance with its mandate, as appropriate, to consider providing technical and financial support for mainstreaming biodiversity and health linkages;

4. Invites Parties, other Governments, and all relevant donors and funding organizations in a position to do so, to consider providing technical support and mobilizing resources for mainstreaming biodiversity and health linkages;

5. Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, in consultation with the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Quadripartite for One Health, to complete the work pursuant to decision 14/4, paragraph 13 (b) and (c) on targeted messages and a draft global action plan, drawing on the deliberations of the resumed session of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, as follows: