Breaking Barriers

Advancing the One Health Agenda with a Focus on Environment


October 12th & 13th 2023, Berlin, Germany 
 
Decision-makers, scientists, and implementers taking action related to the environmental pillar of a One Health approach.  
 

A Summary: “Breaking Barriers” Event in Berlin Convenes Decision-makers, Scientists, and Implementers on Biodiversity Conservation as Part of a One Health Approach, Oct. 16, 2023, Berlin

Breaking Barriers Breakout Sessions: Key Outcomes Report 

Breaking Barriers Summary Videos: (4-minute version) (8-minute version)

Presentations/ Materials

Background: In 2019, representatives from governments, civil society, and scientists from around the world, came together at the “One Planet, One Health, One Future” conference in Berlin, to collaboratively develop an updated framework for the One Health approach. A key outcome of the event was the Berlin Principles, which reaffirm the importance of undertaking an interdisciplinary approach to health, underpinned by a shared understanding that healthy and intact ecosystems provide a critical foundation for present and future health and wellbeing. It is essential to build on the momentum of Conferences of the Parties for the global Conventions on climate (CoP27) and biodiversity (CoP15) in 2022 by garnering commitments for global collaboration and action and meaningfully integrating the environmental perspective in One Health initiatives. With the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), some progress towards commitments that relate to OneHealth –including the environmental perspective– was made, but decision-makers, donors, and practitioners needed to come together to outline practical ways to move forward. 

Thus, the Breaking Barriers event brought together scientists, decision-makers, and implementers related to the environmental pillar of the One Health approach to revisit the Berlin Principles and push the agenda toward action. A major aim of the event was to help "break barriers" by encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration, demystifying questions and concerns about the One Health approach, and informing and inspiring decision-makers and implementers alike. Discussions drew on insights from the Quadripartite’s One Health Joint Plan of Action and the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), and especially focused on biodiversity conservation and prevention of pandemics at source.  The meeting provided a space for cross-sectoral connections to review the status of implementation of the environmental pillar of a One Health approach, showcase expertise and experiences gained (including challenges, success stories, ongoing questions, and lessons learned), identify guidance for the next steps towards action, and shed light on important topics that receive less attention. The event also emphasized economic approaches to valuing environmental assets and health and economic drivers of challenges.  

 
Photo credit for all photos: Frank Peters I Fotografie
 
 
 
 Highlighted discussion topics included: 
 Managing the complexity of the One Health approach 
 Improving communication & coordination of governments & civil society for  One Health Policies 
 Economics of a One Health approach, including valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services 
 Shifting the narrative of health towards a valued asset to society and a global good 
 
Breakout sessions were held on: 
Pollution & ecotoxicology Soil health Invasive species & invertebrate biodiversity Protection of ecosystems & biodiversity Scientific communication & German “flagship” projects on biodiversity and health One Health in Action: Experiences on the ground at the Environment-Health Nexus One Health legal frameworks | Connecting the new WHO CA+ process to existing frameworks 
  
 
The event was made possible thanks to collaboration and support from multiple partners, including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the Quadripartite Collaboration on One Health (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], World Health Organization [WHO], World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH]), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Sector Initiative One Health of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade. The event was primarily supported with funding from the BMZ, with contributions also from the Sector Initiative One Health of the GIZ, International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, WOAH and WCS. We extend special appreciation to Tierpark Berlin for hosting the event at the beautiful venue of the Schloss Friedrichsfelde.
 

Gallery

  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie
  • Photo: Frank Peters I Fotografie

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