Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the third International Conference on Health and Biodiversity, held in Galway, Ireland, today:
Human health and the health of nature are inseparable. Biodiversity is the engine of life. It sustains our food, livelihoods and economies and helps guard against disease. More than half of modern medicines come from nature, and over three quarters of major food crops worldwide depend on animal pollinators.
Yet, we are dismantling this web of life. Biodiversity loss is multiplying the risks of infectious disease, antimicrobial resistance and food insecurity, with the most vulnerable communities paying the highest price.
Grounded in science, prevention and solidarity, the “One Health” approach connects human, animal and ecosystem health, helping us confront threats before they become crises.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework guides efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The 2024 Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health brings biodiversity and health policy together. The 2026 Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity [COP17] in Armenia this October must strengthen cooperation and mobilize finance to accelerate nature’s recovery and protect health.
Scientists and health professionals must work alongside Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose knowledge and stewardship are indispensable to identifying threats, protecting ecosystems and preventing health emergencies.
Together, we can protect biodiversity, advance public health, reduce inequalities and secure a more resilient future for people and planet.