GLG members urge focus on prevention and global cooperation to address AMR

The members of Global Leaders Group for antimicrobial resistance (GLG) underscored the critical interconnection of the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to the triple planetary challenges of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, pollution and waste.

The discussion on December 3, 2023 took place as a part of the Science-Policy Day, held as one of the ongoing activities by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. 

The COP28 summit is taking place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, at Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

Panelists and GLG members, Sunita Narain, director-general of Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment in India and Beatrice Atim Odwong Anywar, Minister of State for Environment in Uganda, participated in this event.

AMR contributes to nearly 5 million deaths annually , primarily in low- and middle-income countries. The threats posed by AMR extend across human, animal, plant, and environmental health, also affecting food safety, security, development and pandemic prevention preparedness and response, as drug-resistant bacteria can circulate through food and the environment.

Narain emphasised the importance of cost-effective solutions to tackle the issue of pharmaceutical waste. She highlighted the larger issue of our production systems and pointed out that the focus should shift from ‘mitigation’ to ‘prevention’ and that the incorporation of prevention into national action plans is required, particularly in agriculture, livestock and other food-producing systems. 

“The idea of prevention needs to be hardwired into our system with good guidance,” she said. Narain highlighted the need for improved diagnostics and alternative therapies as viable options before we move to last-resort antibiotics.

Narain also stated the linkages between AMR, biodiversity and climate need to be well understood. In this respect, agriculture is the core of climate change, livelihood, economy and AMR. 

Anywar emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts through the One Health framework, in which we must care for the health of humans, animals and the environment all at the same time. She highlighted Uganda’s policies in place for environment and a unique provision requiring government ministries to obtain a certificate of no objection from the Ministry of Environment for their actions related to climate and environment. 

The minister also expressed readiness to network with other nations to address the AMR crisis. 

The discussion aligned with UNEP’s publication Bracing for Superbugs and focused on preparing for the UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on AMR in 2024.