This Working Group focuses on the planetary health pillar of Movement Building and Systems Change.
The group is currently working to expand the following initial statement, which summarises the pillar and its relationship with AMR, into a longer policy brief.
This Working Group is open to new members – please email CLIMAR.Network@exeter.ac.uk to join.
The global response to AMR has resulted in multi-sectoral initiatives and global guidelines that stipulate the critical actions required to address it. Both prescribers and users have become too dependent on antimicrobial agents to manage human and animal disease [1], and there is a widespread lack of understanding of the dangers of antimicrobial resistance and its impact. Despite most countries globally having National Action Plans on AMR, implementation and enforcement is often challenging. A 2022 analysis of global guidance [2] proposes a framework of action, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary action across 8 key thematic areas:
1. Optimise the use of antimicrobials in humans and animals
2. Develop new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines
3. Understand AMR in the environment
4. Reduce and prevent infection in humans and animals
5. Optimise AMR surveillance and data management
6. Increase financial investment in AMR related activities
7. Establish strong AMR governance AND
8. Increase public engagement with AMR.
Within the final category of public engagement, three distinct actions were identified: systematic and meaningful engagement of public and civil society groups, increasing public awareness, and educating the public – the purpose of this being to identify how to engage with behaviour change in relation to antimicrobials. One Health is often mentioned in an AMR context and most AMR Action Plans stress the importance of One Health. However, the links with animals and the environment are often poorly articulated, with even the “animal health” and “environmental health” labels suggesting that concerns lie with the health of animals and the environment themselves, rather than their integral roles in the origin, evolution and transmission of AMR that ultimately leads to human deaths from antibiotic resistant infections. We are investigating whether Planetary Health thinking can contribute to better understanding and communication of the complex transdisciplinary problem of AMR. An ‘AMR movement’ is emerging with a focus on antimicrobial stewardship, but starting to incorporate discussions on food production and environmental protection. The Planetary Health Alliance Roadmap presents a framework for individuals and communities to act to address critical societal challenges. A key input into this Working Group will be findings from the other Working Groups: in particular, what needs to be communicated, who the key stakeholders are, and what gaps still exist. The Working Group will also need to think about transdisciplinarity: how to communicate concepts across disciplines that may not have a common language.