“One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy, and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.”

This definition was developed by the One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), whose members represent a broad range of disciplines in science and policy-related sectors relevant to One Health from around the world. OHHLEP consists of experts in areas such as human health, animal health, plant health, wildlife, food production, the environment, and ecosystems and is the scientific and strategic advisory group to the Quadripartite, which includes the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). These organizations have been working together since the end of 2021 to strengthen the One Health approach and address global health challenges.

That said, One Health is a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that highlights the close interconnection between human health, animal health, and the environment. These links are particularly significant in times of global challenges such as zoonoses, climate change, the spread of antibiotic resistance, and environmental pollution. One Health aims to address health issues not in isolation, but by considering all involved international actors (WHO, WOAH, FAO, UNEP) and taking into account the different interests.

From a legal perspective, this approach raises important questions about the design of legal frameworks that enable effective collaboration between the fields of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and environmental protection. The goal is not only to promote health protection for humans, animals, and the environment equally, but also to ensure compliance with international standards. This includes legal regulations on infection control, animal disease law, environmental law, and health policy at both national and international levels.

For further information: One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), Adisasmito WB, Almuhairi S, Behravesh CB, Bilivogui P, Bukachi SA, et al. (2022) One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future.