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SADC leaders launch $5.5bn appeal for drought, flood relief

Michael Simire
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SADC leaders launch $5.5bn appeal for drought, flood relief

Southern African leaders launched a $5.5 billion humanitarian appeal on Saturday, May 18, 2024, to assist over 61 million people affected by drought and flooding linked to an El Niño weather phenomenon, writes Winston Mwale

Drought
Drought in Southern Africa

The funding drive approved at an emergency virtual summit aims to augment domestic resources in impacted nations and mobilise further aid from international partners.

An addendum reflecting revised needs will be issued in August after some countries complete impact assessments, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said in a communique.

SADC also urged proactive steps to brace for potential La Niña conditions in 2024-2025.

“Summit noted the multifaceted and cascading impact of the El Niño induced drought and floods across multiple sectors…and called for coordinated, integrated, and harmonised interventions,” the statement said.

Several U.N. agencies and aid groups including the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Federation of Red Cross pledged initial funding.

But with over 61 million people impacted across the region, SADC said much more support is urgently needed from the international community.

The summit was chaired virtually by Angolan President João Lourenço, the SADC chairman. He welcomed new Namibian President, Nangolo Mbumba, while mourning late Namibian leader, Hage Geingob.

Leaders also condemned an attempted coup on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaffirming opposition to unconstitutional power transfers and expressing solidarity with Congo’s government.

The 16-nation SADC bloc appointed Lourenço last August amid escalating regional instability from insurgencies, coups and weather disasters exacerbated by climate change.

At the time, he warned that failure to address these mounting crises could fuel displacement, hunger and recruitment by extremist groups.

UK research outcomes on water privatisation should be eye opener to Lagos – RDI

Michael Simire
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UK research outcomes on water privatisation should be eye opener to Lagos – RDI

The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the Lagos State Government and other states in Nigeria to learn from failed water privatisation in the United Kingdom (UK) and adequately fund public sector solutions to the water crisis.

Rishi Sunak
British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak

RDI made the call in a reaction to the just-released study by the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) of the University of Greenwich which showed that investors in England and Wales’ water sector (largely driven by profits) withdrew over £85.2 billion from 10 water and sewerage firms in England and Wales since the industry was privatised more than 30 years ago.

The new research comes amid growing public fury towards water companies over the recent Brixham poisoning scandal and rising bill prices. The report shows there is under investment in the UK’s infrastructure, which many believe has led to sewage spills and water leaks.

The research, published by the British Broadcasting Service (BBC), revealed that shareholders in some of the UK’s largest water companies withdrew tens of billions of pounds, but failed to invest, with firms planning to raise household bills to fund future spending. Between 1989 and 2023, money invested by shareholders in the largest firms shrunk by £5.5 billion when adjusted for inflation.

A spokesperson of Ofwat, the industry regulator, said it “strongly refuted” the figures even as it wholeheartedly agreed with demands for companies to change.

Water UK, which represents the industry, said investment in the sector was “double the annual levels seen before privatisation”, but David Hall, visiting professor at the PSIRU at the University of Greenwich, insisted that water companies have invested “less than nothing of their own money” and are “treating their customers like a cash cow”.

Company accounts examined by the university include Thames Water, United Utilities and Severn Trent.

Reacting to the findings, RDI Project Officer, Ifeoluwa Adediran, said: “The study has justified the argument of RDI and other water justice groups that water privatisation is a mirage packaged by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to fool developing nations to bug them down in debts. We hope the Lagos State Government and states across Nigeria can learn from this.

“Research in the last 10 years has shown a trend towards re-municipalisation in countries that have adopted water privatisation. We do not need to tread that path.”

Aside from the poor investment by the privateers in the water sector, there were 464,056 sewage spills in 2023, according to the Environment Agency, a 54% increase on the previous year. The spills came from toilet, personal washing or domestic cleaning such as from a washing machine or doing the dishes. It also includes run-off from roads.

The RDI spokesperson said the findings do not disappoint water justice groups but instead confirm long standing research across the globe that show disappointing outcomes of privatisation that have fueled a steady recourse to re-municipalisations.

“The UK example only adds to existing research that shows that the solution to the global water crisis is in the realm of a public democratically controlled and sustainably funded water sector. Privatisation in the water sector is a huge scam,” Adediran insisted.

Biodiversity fund approves 18 new project preparation grants

Michael Simire
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Biodiversity fund approves 18 new project preparation grants

The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) has approved a new round of project preparation grants and set aside more than $70 million for 18 new projects in 21 countries, including 13 Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. The approvals keep the momentum for the less than one-year-old fund housed at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to put nature on a path to recovery before 2030.

Carlos Manuel Rodriguez
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson

The resources will fund action on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (the Biodiversity Plan) in Angola, Belize, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fiji, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mozambique, Nauru, Palau, Peru, the Philippines, Samoa, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, and Tonga.

GEF CEO and Chairperson, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, celebrated the announcement during the week of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). “The approval of these grants shows the new fund commitment to allocating resources efficiently to impactful projects that will promote inclusiveness. We are part of the Plan,” said Rodríguez in a reference to this year’s IDB theme, which is a call to action for all stakeholders to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity.

The projects will advance many of the Biodiversity Plan targets – particularly 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 18, 19, 22, and 23 – and have high outcome targets for enhancing biodiversity, including support to more than 8 million hectares of terrestrial and marine protected areas.

The second round of preparation grants includes projects from six GEF implementing agencies: the Asian Development Bank, Conservation International, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and WWF-US.

In March, the GBFF approved a first round of preparation grants for four projects totaling nearly $40 million in Brazil, Gabon, and Mexico. Together, the two rounds set aside $110 million for 22 projects in 24 countries, with 35 percent of this funding expected to support action by Indigenous Peoples and local communities for biodiversity. GBFF resources are allocated in a country-driven manner to projects through consecutive selection rounds open to all eligible countries.

The GBFF was launched in August 2023 during the GEF Assembly in Canada to support the Biodiversity Plan. So far, it received contributions from six countries: Canada, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Urban renewal: Ekiti distributes N300m cheques to affected property owners

Michael Simire
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Urban renewal: Ekiti distributes N300m cheques to affected property owners

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has paid N300 million as compensation to property owners affected by the state government’s urban renewal programme.

Biodun Oyebanji
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State

Oyebanji, represented by his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, distributed the cheques to the beneficiaries in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday, May 20, 2024.

The governor noted that the disbursement followed his government’s desire not to subject property owners to undue bottleneck before been compensated.

“The beneficiaries are property owners at Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti, a slum within the capital city where an Ultra-Modern Central Business District and Modern Park will be constructed,’’ he said.

The governor said though the property were acquired in determination to rid Ekiti of slums and shanties, the payment of compensation is to the original landowners.

“One of the cardinal objectives of my administration is transformation of urban slums into a befitting central hub that will boost economic opportunities, and this spurred us to acquire Atikankan and Igbehin area.

“The proposed project will be one of the major trading hubs in the state where government, private individuals, business and corporate organisations can buy and sell goods and services in a decent and more coordinated manner.

“The projects will have impact and improve the living standards of the people as it is capable of generating employments for the youths.

“Let me reiterate that none of the developmental projects, well-structured crops and property in the affected area will be demolished without payment or full compensation to the beneficiaries of such property,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Head of Service, Mr Sunday Komolafe, described the proposed Central Business District and Park legacy projects as facilities that would add aesthetic values to Ado-Ekiti and upscale the state economically.

Komolafe said that the government shared the pains of those who lost their property and businesses to the construction of the facilities but clarified that the urban renewal policy was initiated in public interest.

By Funmilayo Okunade

LASEPA set to enforce hygiene at restaurants, hotels

Michael Simire
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LASEPA set to enforce hygiene at restaurants, hotels

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) says it will start visiting eateries, restaurants, and hotels, to ascertain their level of compliance to regulatory hygiene standards.

Dr Tunde Ajayi
General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Tunde Ajayi

The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Tunde Ajayi, said this during the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) Continuing Medical Education (CME) event, on Monday, May 20, 2024, in Lagos.

The event was held in commemoration of World Family Doctor Day, celebrated annually on May 19 globally.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Healthy Planet, Healthy People”, seeks to draw action for family doctors, healthcare professionals, and communities worldwide to recognise and respond to the health challenges posed by climate change.

Ajayi affirmed LASEPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws to ensure citizen’s well-being through safe and clean operations that protects public health from food and water borne diseases.

According to him, food hygiene can be observed through kitchen operations, such as cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene, noting that many restaurants have poor hygiene levels.

He noted that this had resulted in sickness for many unsuspecting citizens, worsening morbidity and mortality among citizens.

Ajayi said that there was need to know the level of e-coli in their wastewater, heavy metals in their portable water, noting that the agency conducts all these tests.

“Over the next couple of months, we would strengthen monitoring and compliance to ensure quality standards.

“Nobody should just wake up and pull water from the well and use it to cook for the public,” he said.

He advised the physicians to investigate the correlation between water, food and air quality and prevailing health conditions of patients presenting at health facilities.

Ajayi stressed that the environment has a direct impact on those living in it and could cause health problems like respiratory diseases, heart disease, and some types of cancer.

He stressed the need for organisations and individuals to collaborate and leverage on collective knowledge and innovation that would improve the environment and health of citizens.

Also, Dr Atinuke Onayiga, Chairman, Health Service Commission (HSC), said an unhealthy environment jeopardises the realisation of universal health coverage by compounding the existing burden of disease and worsening barriers to accessing health services.

Onayiga commended family doctors for their dedication to providing patient-centred care, in spite the challenges of the health sector.

Similarly, Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON Lagos, said climate change was impacting health in a myriad of ways, from extreme weather events, disruption of food systems and increases in diseases.

“Growing up, we know when to expect rain and dry season, but nowadays, it’s hard to predict, we have had rain falling on Christmas day.

“It shows that we have abused the planet and nature is taking its toll on us by hitting back and also showing in diseases, not just respiratory diseases, but communicable and noncommunicable diseases, even leading to emergence of new infections.

“The world hasn’t recovered from the effects of COVID-19, even diseases that are endemic to our country like the Lassa fever, meningitis and others are taking their toll on us and our health system,” Ozuomba said.

Ozuomba stressed the importance of instilling a culture of environmental consciousness among citizens to foster a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment.

The event started with tree planting at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, and featured a medical outreach programme at Itire/Ijesha Community, Lagos.

By Oluwafunke Ishola 

Germany partners Nigeria to tackle climate change

Michael Simire
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Germany partners Nigeria to tackle climate change

The German Government is into partnership with Nigeria to combat climate change and related issues in the country, the Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Gunther, has said.

Annette Gunther
Annette Gunther, German Ambassador to Nigeria

Gunther, who said this in an interview on Monday, May 20, 2024, in Abuja, added that the perennial floods in parts of Nigeria is a global challenge, aggravated by the climate change phenomenon.

She noted that all hands must be on deck to tackle the root causes of climate issues, adding that decarbonisation, and zero emissions would help to solve the problem not only in Nigeria but globally.

The ambassador added that Nigeria has an ambitious goal in its energy transition plan, developed under the previous administration to ensure zero emission until 2060, adding that, if properly implemented, it can be impactful.

She said that “in our cooperation talks, we are interested in how to help Nigeria to achieve that goal.

“We therefore have opened a hydrogen diplomacy office called German-Nigerian hydrogen diplomacy office where experts organise meetings, conferences, discussions and bring together stakeholders in the area of renewable energies and particularly on hydrogen.

“Even though gas is currently the primary source of energy and power, we have to chart the way forward. We need to have these discussions to reach our climate goals earlier or as soon as possible.’’

The envoy explained that weather had become unpredictable and difficult for agriculture to thrive.

“In our development cooperation, we have programmes to support farmers in developing drought resilient crops.

“We are also aware that the effect of climate change reduces the sources of income for people, as well as durable land for farming,’’ the ambassador said.

Gunther further disclosed that plans were underway to address the issue of shrinking resources, as the German Government work toward mediating conflicts between communities.

By Chinenye Offor

ACReSAL trains farmers on climate change adaptation in Sokoto

Michael Simire
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0
ACReSAL trains farmers on climate change adaptation in Sokoto

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) has begun the training of farmers in Sokoto State on best agricultural practices and proper utilisation of livelihood packages to mitigate climate change.

Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto
Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto of Sokoto State

The Project Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Gatawa, said this at the inauguration of the training exercise on Monday, May 20, 2024, in Sokoto, the state capital.

Gatawa said 5,000 hectares of arable land was earmarked on the project with focus on restoring optimum land fertility, forestation and other productive activities in Sokoto State.

He said the exercise was part of the initiative to reinvigorate the land productivity and provide alternative livelihood to the communities as well as to protect forest resources from extinctions.

“We organised the training for the local communities surrounding the project areas on best utilisation of livelihood packages provided by the project.

“The concept was conceived under the project’s component to engage stakeholders comprising traditional and religious leaders, key community members and farming communities on special ecosystem forest management,” Gatawa said.

He explained that economic trees, herbal medicinal trees and those providing shelters and other importance to the environment would be planted and nursed.

“It is an activity under the project that is focused on ensuring the integrity of the ecosystem is maintained, to enable the environment to benefit from the critical functions it serves in the area of dryland management,” he said.

Earlier, the State’s Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Nura Tangaza, underscored the importance of the project toward restoring environmental productivity.

Tangaza, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Mr Mustapha Alkali, urged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunity towards improving their social and economic status.

He said the benefitting communities would be exposed to Crop Production Management, Sustainable Practices, Climate Change Adaptation, Livestock Management, Data Management and Use, Farming Business and Marketing.

The District Head of Shuni, Alhaji Harande Muhammad, enjoined the farming communities to protect the environment to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on the ecosystems.

By Habibu Harisu

World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 documents illegal trade in 162 countries, territories

Michael Simire
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World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 documents illegal trade in 162 countries, territories

The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 was launched on Monday, May 13, 2024, by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Austria. This is the third report in a series following the 2020 and 2016 publications.

Ms. Ivonne Higuero CITES
CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero

The report provides an updated focus on trends in the illegal trade in wildlife species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It presents a systematic analysis of wildlife crime harms and impacts, probes the factors driving wildlife trafficking trends, and takes stock of current knowledge about the effectiveness of the different types of interventions being pursued to resolve wildlife crime.

CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, in congratulating UNODC and all those involved in the launch of the report, remarked: “World Wildlife Crime Reports are uniquely insightful and are a powerful tool to inform responses to the devastating consequences of wildlife crime. Data-driven research is crucial and forms a strong foundation for policymaking. This research drives factual decision-making, and targeted interventions to combat this global threat that affects people and planet.”

New emphasis in this edition is placed on the assessment of the causes and impacts of wildlife trafficking and associated crime at a global level. The findings of the report reinforce a critical message that the factors driving trafficking from source to end markets vary enormously between different illicit wildlife commodity sectors.

It stresses the importance of using solutions which can be tailored and the potential for ongoing wildlife crime research to assist these efforts by gaining insights into criminal structures, financial incentives and evolving demand patterns of trafficking chains.

The seizure data in the report documents illegal trade in 162 countries and territories during 2015–2021, which impacted around 4,000 plant and animal species – 3,250 of which are listed in the CITES Appendices. In many cases, illegal trade appeared to have contributed to local or global extinctions of species, disrupted ecosystems, and undermined the many socioeconomic benefits that people derive from nature.

Case studies on specimens of species affected by illegal wildlife trade were included for live orchids, dried seahorses, rosewood timber, African elephant ivory, African rhinoceros horn and pangolin scales.

The data in the report is largely derived from the available national annual illegal trade reports, which CITES Parties are required to submit each year. This data is included in the CITES Illegal Trade Database and hosted by UNODC on behalf of the CITES Secretariat. The dissemination platform for the database allows illegal trade data to become an accessible and valuable resource for CITES Parties, who use the data to guide their decision-making and support the development of targeted and evidence-based responses to combat wildlife crime.

CITES plays a crucial role in combating wildlife crime as the primary legal framework for regulating international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants listed in the CITES Appendices. CITES works closely with UNODC, along with INTERPOL, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the World Bank Group, as part of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC).

ICCWC works to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support at the national, regional and international level. The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 will be an important resource in the work of ICCWC and for CITES Parties globally and will inform global research and analysis studies undertaken by ICCWC.

Tinubu establishes, chairs committee on green economy, lists objectives

Michael Simire
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0
Tinubu establishes, chairs committee on green economy, lists objectives

President Bola Tinubu has established a committee to oversee Green Economic Initiative, being a strategic move to ensure advancement of his administration to tackle challenges of climate change in Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made this known in a statement on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Abuja.

The committee, chaired by Tinubu, has Balarabe Lawal (Minister of Environment) as Vice-Chairman, Ajuri-Obari Ngelale (Special Adviser) as Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy, and Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp), Salisu Dahiru (DG/CEO, NCCC), Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC), and Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC) as members.

Others are Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA), Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW), Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN), Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA), Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp), Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI), Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF), Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN), Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL), Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser), Representative of Federal Ministry of FCT, and Representative of Federal Ministry of Finance.

Included in the team are Representative of Federal Ministry of Power, Representative of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Representative of Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and Representative of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

The rest of the members are Representative of Federal Inland Revenue Service, and Representative of Nigeria Customs Service.

According to Imohiosen, the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, established by the President, will coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.

“This is to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes, provide an efficient governance architecture.

“And ensure that all relevant institutions in the sector are plugged into the president’s vision and are collectively implementing the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ on climate action,” he said.

Imohiosen stated further that the Presidential committee shall, among other functions, identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil and non-gas climate action initiatives.

He listed other functions to include:

  • Coordinating all activities of relevant federal institutions toward the attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions of the federal government.
  • Collaborating with all relevant government, sub-national governments, non-government, and civil society entities toward attainment of the climate action objectives and ambitions of the Federal Government.
  • Collaborating with national governments and multilateral institutions toward the attainment of the climate action objectives and carbon market ambitions of the Federal Government.
  • Monitor, evaluate, and guide the progress of all climate action and renewable energy projects and activities of the Federal Government.
  • Track and guide the implementation of initiatives and developments conducted by the Energy Transition Working Group and supervise the work of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
  • Prepare a half-yearly green ambitions update, covering all associated climate action achievements of the Federal Government.

Imohiosen stated that Tinubu had also appointed Chief Ajuri Ngelale as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

“Ngelale will retain his role as the Official Spokesperson of the President and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, while serving on the committee.”

He said that Tinubu remained committed to achieving Nigeria’s green economy objectives on the path of a just energy transition while unlocking new investments in this critical sector that is central to the nation’s economic future.

By Okon Okon

Progress made in negotiations on amendments to International Health Regulations

Michael Simire
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0
Progress made in negotiations on amendments to International Health Regulations

In what looks like an historic milestone for global public health, State Parties on Saturday, May 18, 2024, agreed in principle on a large, ground-breaking package of amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005). These amendments build on over 300 proposals made by countries in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Health Regulations (IHR)
Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) Co-Chair, Dr Ashley Bloomfield of New Zealand (left) and Dr Abdullah Assiri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

They set out to improve the ability of countries to prepare for, detect and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs), and will be part of a package to be put forward to the World Health Assembly (WHA). The WHA takes place from May 27 to June 1, 2024. Negotiators will meet again next week to wrap up their work on the few remaining issues that need to be finalised.

The IHR, which were first adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1969 and last revised in 2005, were conceived to maximise collective efforts to manage public health events while at the same time minimising their disruption to travel and trade. They have 196 State Parties, comprising all 194 WHO Member States plus Liechtenstein and the Holy See. These Parties have led the process to amend the IHR through the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR). Saturday marked the end of the resumed session of the eighth meeting of the WGIHR.

This process has been running in parallel to an intergovernmental process to develop an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The draft pandemic agreement, with its own Member State-led negotiating process which resumes on May 20, is also due to go to the World Health Assembly.

“The International Health Regulations have served the world well for nearly 20 years but our collective experience in using this vital tool for the management of multiple public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, has demonstrated important areas in which they could be strengthened for the benefit of all 196 State Parties,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“This is historic. Countries have come together around improved international mechanisms to protect every person in the world and future generations from the impact of epidemics and pandemics, with a commitment to equity and solidarity. I thank all the Member States for their unswerving dedication,” he added.

WGIHR Co-Chair, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, of New Zealand, said: “It has been a long but very productive and gratifying process to achieve consensus on the majority of the proposed amendments. This shows the importance the world places on being able to prepare effectively for and respond better to epidemic and pandemic threats, and that there is strong international consensus on how to go about international public health protection.”

Fellow WGIHR Co-Chair, Dr Abdullah Assiri, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said: “Amending the International Health Regulations reflects the critical need to bolster our collective defences against current and future public health risks, all whilst firmly adhering to the principle of national sovereignty and respecting equity. Today, we have coalesced around a robust set of amendments which will make international cooperation more effective and easier to implement.”

A potential new pandemic agreement and the amended IHRs would be complementary international instruments designed and negotiated by Member States to help countries protect their peoples better from future pandemic threats. The IHRs focus on building countries’ capacities to detect and respond to public health events which could take on international dimensions, whilst the draft pandemic accord focuses on a coordinated international response to pandemics, with equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics at the centre.

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