As wildfires, heatwaves, floods and other interconnected crises intensify in 2025, recognizing the link between human, animal and environmental health – and acting across sectors – is essential.
This World One Health Day, 9 international organizations make 4 key recommendations and call for action nationally, regionally and globally to advance the implementation of the One Health approach in Europe and beyond.
As representatives of the European Union (EU) Cross-agency One Health Task Force and the European and Central Asia Quadripartite, we jointly acknowledge the urgency of addressing risks where human, animal, plant and environmental health intersect. These risks – intensified by climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, land use changes, complex food chains, and increased trade and travel – demand stronger and more integrated prevention and response measures.
The summer of 2025 was the warmest on record. By early September, nearly 1 million hectares of land had been lost to wildfires in the EU, far exceeding the long-term annual average of 280 000 hectares. Marine heatwaves affected nearly the entire Mediterranean, amplifying ecological stress and threatening livelihoods.
Record-breaking heat and extended mosquito seasons have fuelled the spread of West Nile virus, chikungunya and dengue, while also driving a rise in heat-related illnesses, foodborne infections and pressure on health systems – especially affecting vulnerable populations.
At the same time, animal diseases such as bluetongue, lumpy skin disease and avian influenza threaten animal welfare and food security.
These environmental disruptions further increase the risk of zoonotic and transboundary diseases as habitat shifts, unsustainable land use and agricultural practices bring wildlife, livestock and humans into closer contact.
In light of this, we work closely with the European Commission and call on all stakeholders – governments, other institutions (including financial institutions), civil society, academia and the private sector – to intensify their commitment to advancing One Health at all levels.
To achieve this, we underscore the urgent need to do the following:
- Enhance global and regional coordination – Ensure alignment in the implementation of the EU Cross-agency One Health Framework for Action and the Quadripartite’s One Health Joint Plan of Action, reinforcing global and regional solidarity in tackling transboundary health challenges.
- Invest in stronger One Health governance and collaborative leadership – As highlighted by the Scientific Advice Mechanism opinion on One Health governance in the EU, robust governance is essential to connect policies and actions across sectors. Increased investment is required to strengthen institutional capacities, promote inclusive decision-making and foster collaborative leadership models that can effectively manage complex One Health challenges at regional and EU levels.
- Make intersectoral collaboration the norm – Embed One Health into national and subnational governance systems through legislation, sustained financing and enabling policy frameworks. Build trust and accountability through transparent communication, joint planning and decision-making, data sharing, and cross-sectoral monitoring.
- Leverage evidence to support strategic investment in One Health approaches – Carry out and build on analyses showing the economic and social value of prevention and preparedness through One Health measures. Ensure that policy choices are grounded in scientific evidence and deliver benefits for human, animal and environmental health, while demonstrating the added value obtained through coordination, collaboration, communication and capacity-building that the One Health approach promotes.
As we celebrate World One Health Day, the challenges we face serve as a powerful reminder of our interconnected vulnerabilities and shared responsibilities. To prevent, prepare and respond to the next pandemic, no sector or country can act alone: we must act together, now.
Through dedicated cooperation and proactive measures, the EU Cross-agency One Health Task Force and the European and Central Asia Quadripartite commit to implementing the One Health approach. We invite all partners to join us in this essential endeavour for the health of people, animals, and the planet.
About the Task Force and Quadripartite
The EU Cross-agency One Health Task Force is a joint initiative of 5 agencies of the EU that have a technical and scientific mandate in the areas of environmental sustainability, public health and food safety. Members include the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) contributes as an observer.
The European and Central Asia Quadripartite facilitates cooperation among the regional offices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and WHO, enabling the WHO European Region to address risks at the human–animal–ecosystem interface and mainstream the One Health approach.