My thanks to the Sultanate of Oman for hosting this, the 3rd High-level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, or AMR. Welcome to the ministers in attendance, our colleagues in the One Health Quadripartite and other delegates. My apologies that owing to previous commitments, I am unable to join you in-person.
Antimicrobials have protected humans, animals, and plants. But for decades, we have literally been flushing antibiotics down the drain. This goes into the waterways, into the environment and into the foods that we eat. So this, coupled with overuse of antimicrobials works to reduce the effectiveness of antimicrobials themselves. Imagine a world in which the medicines we produce were no longer effective.
We at UNEP has placed the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste at the heart of our work. AMR cannot be addressed separately from this crisis, which is driven by unsustainable consumption and production. A One Health approach is essential.
UNEP is working to provide science that informs strategies on AMR. A spotlight report on the environmental dimension of AMR is under development. In this report, key pollution sources are identified: intensive agri-food systems, pharmaceuticals, healthcare facilities, municipal waste and wastewater infrastructures. Addressing the environmental dimension of AMR is clearly essential.
There is a strong political momentum, with initiatives such as the AMR Global Leaders Group. At this conference, further political commitment to a One Health response to AMR must emerge and indeed I believe it will. This is a complex global problem that requires a coordinated multisectoral and multinational approach. Radically improved governance is needed. We need to see regulatory changes, including international standards, which should be translated into national regulations, with enforcement.
We need to see engagement with industry actors, who should take voluntary action ahead of regulatory requirements. Self-reporting by countries indicates that a third of National Action Plans on AMR do not include the environment. These plans must be adjusted to boost actions to prevent and reduce environmental pollution. The burden of AMR can be reduced if we focus on all its dimensions and work together. UNEP is committed to working at all levels with key partners, such as the Quadripartite organizations, to address AMR.
Thank you. And I look forward to a continued close partnership with the Sultanate of Oman and all partners including our friends in the Quadripartite to address AMR.
