One Sustainable Health Forum
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
07/07/2021
One Sustainable Health Forum
Video Message by
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
7 July 2021
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Colleagues and Participants,
- I would like to thank you for inviting me to address you today.
- Our world is facing increasing threats from the risks of epidemics and pandemics,
- Climate crises and environmental contamination,
- biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, among others.
- Natural resources are under pressure due to a growing world population, unsustainable
agri-food systems, and rapid urbanization. - If left unchecked, these global challenges will have devastating consequences for humankind and our capacity to feed the world.
- The complexity and interconnectedness of the challenges require a bold paradigm shift, embracing structural solutions with great emphasis on upstream prevention.
- We must rethink our relationship with nature.
- We need to embrace collaborative, collective, multi-sectoral, and transdisciplinary approaches, to move forward.
- We must build partnerships, alliances and coalitions for science-based and green solutions to transform our agri-food systems and keep our healthier planet.
- These efforts are crucial for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
- With an overall mandate of ending hunger and alleviating poverty;
- underpinned by the aspiration for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
- FAO promotes the transformation to more efficient, resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems.
- One Health as a systematic approach links human, animal, plant and environmental health.
- It seeks the optimal balance across sectors and systems to prevent long-term health risks to people and animals, achieving food security and preserving natural resources.
- The approach is gaining traction as a core strategic area within FAO’s 4 Betters vision.
- And we are working with OIE, WHO plus UNEP and others on developing a Global Plan of Action on One Health.
- The plan is a joint commitment for collective action to implement One Health at global, regional and national levels.
- Our timeline is ambitious,
- but urgency and political willingness shall propel us to move fast,
- to ensure a sustainable One Health for all.
- Thank you.