Biology

Have we learned any lessons from the new coronavirus infection? UN summit considers plans for a healthy planet and humanity

Animals like bats can carry viruses that can be harmful to humans.

The coronavirus and Ebola outbreaks have highlighted the harm posed to humans when we interfere too much with nature and come into contact with animals carrying unknown pathogens.

At the COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, experts and activists told world leaders that an estimated 7 million lives have been lost to the coronavirus and thousands more to Ebola. He urged them to learn lessons from the

It is up to governments to act and there is no time to waste.

IPBES, the intergovernmental science and policy body on biodiversity, has already warned that unless humanity changes course, “future pandemics will occur more frequently, spread more rapidly, cause greater damage to the global economy, and “It will kill a lot of people,” he has already warned.

At the United Nations summit in Cali, delegates are working on a Biodiversity and Health Action Plan proposed for adoption by the 196 member states of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

This includes commitments to limit harmful agriculture and forestry, reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals that damage nature, and reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock.

However, the plan is voluntary and parties are still particular about some details.

WWF wildlife policy manager Colman Ocliodane told AFP that the agreement “may come at the expense of thinner language on some issues, such as intensive farming and the use of antimicrobials.” Ta. These issues affect biotechnology and agribusiness, both of which generate huge amounts of money.

“If we want to prevent further epidemics and pandemics, we need to change our relationship with nature,” said Sue Lieberman, vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is pushing for the plan’s adoption.

“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

So-called zoonotic diseases are spread between animals and humans because they can occur when humans invade native virgin forests or transport wild animals to be traded for meat.

Deforestation is a major cause of so-called zoonotic disease outbreaks.

Deforestation is the main cause of so-called zoonotic disease outbreaks.

For example, many scientists believe that COVID-19 originated in a wet market in Wuhan, China, where wild animal meat was illegally sold for consumption.

Ebola is a highly deadly hemorrhagic fever that has killed around 15,000 people in Africa, and bats are thought to be its natural reservoir, with bats transmitting the virus to humans either directly or through other animals. There is a possibility of infection.

“Deforestation, intensive agriculture, wildlife trade and exploitation are the main causes of biodiversity loss and zoonotic diseases,” Adeline Lelambert of wildlife NGO Born Free told AFP. .

“The deeper humans and livestock penetrate into areas with high biodiversity, pristine and undisturbed areas, the more likely they are to encounter new strains of the virus, especially since viruses are constantly mutating,” WWF’s Okriodane said. will be higher,” he added.

The 2020 IPBES report called for a “transformation in the global approach to dealing with infectious diseases”.

“COVID-19 is at least the sixth global health pandemic since the 1918 influenza pandemic, and like other pandemics, it has its origins in animal-borne microorganisms,” the report said. Its appearance is entirely caused by human activity.”

The report estimates that there are currently around 1.7 million “undiscovered” viruses in mammals and birds, of which up to 827,000 can infect humans.

As a measure to prevent the “spread of new diseases”, IPBES advocates increasing protection of natural areas and reducing unsustainable exploitation of resources.

Will the COP16 Action Plan achieve its mission?

For the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Lieberman, the voluntary nature of the plan is not ideal: “If the government says, ‘We don’t care, we’ll ignore it,’ it won’t make any difference.” . That depends on each country.”

But she still hopes fear of a resurgence of coronavirus infections will spur action.

“If we do nothing, if nothing changes, we will have another pandemic. The question is not if, but when,” Lieberman warned.

© 2024 AFP

Source: Lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic? United Nations summit considers plan for a healthy planet and humanity (October 26, 2024) https://phys.org/news/2024-10-covid Retrieved October 27, 2024 from -lessons-summit-mulls-healthy.html

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