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The second Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit (GPPS), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 29 to 30, 2024, brought together leading experts and global leaders to confront the growing challenges posed by pandemics in an era of climate change.

Convened by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and co-hosted by BrazilÂ’s Ministry of Health and Fiocruz, one of the worldÂ’s oldest public health institutions, the summit served as a critical platform for discussing advancements and strategies in pandemic preparedness.

One of the keynote speakers, Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), emphasized the crucial role of genomic surveillance in detecting and controlling disease outbreaks. In his address, he warned that the world remains dangerously unprepared for future pandemics, particularly as climate change continues to drive the spread of infectious diseases.

'Over half of pathogens are being amplified by climate change. With the global circulation of pathogens, there is a larger risk for transmission across different continents,' Professor de Oliveira cautioned. He stressed the importance of enhancing global genomic surveillance systems to detect emerging threats early and prevent widespread transmission.

The two-day summit featured a series of keynote speeches, plenary panels, and in-depth discussions, bringing together experts from various countries to share insights and experiences. Topics ranged from the latest advancements in medical countermeasures to the lessons learned from recent health emergencies.

Participants highlighted the urgent need for broader research and international collaboration to better prepare for the next pandemic. Leaders from across the world, representing diverse fields such as public health, science, and policy, underscored the importance of addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and epidemic preparedness.

The Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit underscored the pressing need for a unified global response to the emerging threats posed by climate change and pandemics, with a particular focus on strengthening genomic surveillance and international cooperation. As the world faces the increasing risks of global disease outbreaks, the summit highlighted the critical importance of being better prepared to protect public health on a global scale

Over half of pathogens are being amplified by climate change. With the global circulation of pathogens, there is a larger risk for transmission across different continents.

VIDEO

Watch the keynote at GPPS here: https://youtu.be/3 If2hxfsVCc?si=kNXwQEzYHQtwdCjf

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