Addressing threats to health and well-being requires implementing a One Health approach, recognising the interdependence of people, animals, plants and ecosystems. In this statement, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), European Environment Agency (EEA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) express their joint commitment as EU agencies to fully support the One Health agenda in Europe.
A comprehensive One Health approach, which includes tackling drivers of environmental degradation, preventing risks at source by prioritising upstream prevention and investing in preparedness interventions, is essential to deliver health security (OHHLEP et al., 2023).
There is evidence that applying such an approach can reduce the incidence and societal costs of disease outbreaks and other health threats, or even prevent their emergence (Zinsstag et al., 2023). At the same time, the One Health approach helps reduce human pressures on the environment.
The benefits of implementing One Health to address issues including zoonotic and (re-)emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases linked to environmental risk factors, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate adaptation (Fig. 1) are clear.
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