On November 20, in Budapest, Hungary, the World Science Forum played host to an impactful initiative under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event, titled “Catalysing the Creation of a World Network of One Sustainable Health Institutes,” was co-organized by the One Europe for Global Health Coalition, the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN), and supported by the Fondation Une Santé Durable pour Tous, the Virchow Foundation, and the EU4Health Consortium, co-funded by the European Union.
Key Discussions at the Forum
The event focused on six major themes, highlighting multidisciplinary approaches to improve One Health outcomes. The voices of leaders of existing institutes already implementing One Sustainable Health approaches, were combined with those of international and national organisation involved in Training, Research and Education as well as translation of discoveries and novel ideas to effective practice.
- Education Programs
A unanimous call was made across all regions, for quality education initiatives to train “healthcare” professionals and students in applying scientific advancements to “patient” care – the “patient” being Humans of course, but also Wildlife, Livestock and the Planet! Emphasis was placed on cultivating a new generation of scientists prepared to tackle global challenges founded in the principles of One Sustainable Health.
- Environmental and Agricultural Sciences
The inaugural participation of the International Council for Wildlife Conservation (CIC) was illuminating through the profound logic (if not common sense) in mobilizing actors in the field as front line “sensors” of “real-time” ecosystem evolution AND influencers. Examples of programs with Hunters and Herders spoke to the concrete benefit of such actions. Discussions underscored the importance of managing carbon and nitrogen cycles to promote sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring environmental resilience in the face of climate change.
- Improving Scientific Translation
Several participants emphasized bridging the gap between research and practice to reduce preventable deaths. Knowledge of diverse impacts of human activity – positive and negative – on specific ecosystem “layers”, sets the stage for understanding and remediation. Collaborative, multidisciplinary research and consortium-building were identified as essential to advancing One Sustainable Health solutions.
- Cancer Prevention
In harmony with this view, a paradigm shift was described, which moves focus toward prevention, public health education on cancer risk factors, and addressing inequalities in care. In view of the very close link to human impact on the environment – air, water, soil pollution – multidisciplinary approaches were advocated for cancer prevention, research, treatment.
- Hungary’s Research and Innovation
Hungary’s adoption of Horizon Europe principles was praised. The country’s commitment to fostering multidisciplinary research, international collaboration, and increasing its contribution to global scientific advancements was highlighted.
- Artificial Intelligence in Research
The role of artificial intelligence was explored, particularly in combating antimicrobial resistance and enhancing protein structure research. AI’s potential to enable collaboration and improve communication among researchers was seen as pivotal for the future of One Sustainable Health innovation.
Vision for One Sustainable Health Institutes
The proposed World Network of One Sustainable Health Institutes would serve as a framework for implementing these and other recommendations according to the specific regional needs. Its areas of focus include:
- Training & Education
- Developing awareness about the climate-health nexus across all sectors of society, from nursery schools to senior citizens, to ensure the urgency of the challenge is understood.
- Involving professionals from civil society, industry, and government to foster inclusive education.
- Innovation & Research
- Promoting collaboration between academia, enterprise, and industry to drive innovations that benefit One Sustainable Health.
- Intelligence & Surveillance
- Establishing metrics and accountability systems to monitor progress and compliance in sustainable health practices.
- Governance
- Integrating sustainable health governance into local, national, and global decision-making structures.
Hungarian Legacy and Contributions
The forum celebrated Hungary’s longstanding contributions to science, technology, and culture. From its historical achievements to its current dedication to education, research and innovation, Hungary continues to play a significant role in global progress.
The event concluded with heartfelt thanks to participants and partner organizations, whose collaboration and commitment are driving the vision of a healthier, more sustainable future.
By contributing to the foundation of the World Network of One Sustainable Health Institutes, the Budapest forum set an inspiring example of international cooperation to address shared challenges in health, education, and environmental sustainability.
