ELI Member Breaking News Event
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken much of the world’s attention having a significant negative impact on the global economy, forcing business to shut down, school closures, countries to close borders, flight cancellations and travel bans, and cultural events including conferences, sporting events, concerts and more to cancel or postpone. While the economic impact of COVID-19 is unfolding, the United Nations (UN) estimates it could cost the global economy up to $2 trillion in 2020.
However, while COVID-19 likely originated in an animal species before transferring to humans, it is only the latest novel infectious disease to transfer from animal species to humans. The emergence of new transferable diseases, known as zoonotic diseases, is increasingly likely as Earth’s climate warms and animal habitats degrade. According to the “One World, One Health” Program of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), preparing for the next epidemic begins with restoring ecosystems and mitigating climate change. In October 2019, WCS and the German Federal Foreign Office developed 10 principles, known as the “Berlin Principles,” to guide governments, NGOs, and the private sector in promoting human health by promoting the health of other animal species and ecosystems.
What practices can keep zoonotic diseases at bay? How are governments, NGOs and the private sector preparing for future epidemics? What are the “Berlin Principles” and how might they mitigate future epidemics? Leading experts addressed these questions, examined current information known about COVID-19, and looked ahead to the future in this Breaking News webinar.
Panelists:
Nicholas A. Robinson, Professor of Law, Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Moderator
Claudia de Windt, Visiting Scholar, Environmental Law Institute, former Senior Specialist, Environmental Security and Justice, Organization of American States
Mary Ellen Ternes, Partner, Earth & Water Law, LLC
Dr. Chris Walzer, Executive Director of Wildlife Health, Wildlife Conservation Society
Materials:
There were no speaker materials for this event...
Supplemental Materials:
How Do We Prevent the Next Outbreak? (Robinson/Walzer, Mar. 25, 2020, Scientific American)
Destruction of habitat and loss of biodiversity are creating the perfect conditions for diseases like COVID-19 to emerge (Ensia, Mar. 17, 2020)
The Berlin Principles on One Health, 2019
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