WHA adopts historic global pandemic agreement to make world more safer from future pandemics

The World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), on Tuesday adopted the historic global pandemic agreement in Geneva, Switzerland, to improve pandemic preparedness.

The pandemic agreement proposes the establishment of a series of new platforms and mechanisms aimed at comprehensively reforming the existing systems for pandemic surveillance, prevention, and response.

It seeks to promote research and equitable sharing of pandemic-related products, adjust the production and distribution order of such productions, and further improve the global public health governance system, with a particular focus on addressing fairness challenges in international health development.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the assembly "The WHO pandemic agreement will run among the most significant achievements in the history of this organization and of global health," underscoring that it places humanity in a stronger position than ever before to prepare for and respond to pandemics.

The landmark decision by the 78th WHA culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from and more equitable in response to future pandemics.

The agreement, which, by global treaty standards, is speedy. The main obstacle was to convince wealthier nations to share technology with developing countries in the case of another pandemic.

"We saw what happened with the availability of vaccines and other countermeasures, but the provisions in this draft agreement are making it possible for us to be able to ramp up capacity for production of vaccines and other countermeasures in case a pandemic comes up," said Sultani Matendechero, deputy director-general of the Kenyan Ministry of Health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, rich countries were seen hoarding vaccines while many countries in the Global South had to wait months to access doses. This is a situation that the WHO hopes won't ever be repeated.

"This agreement is something that countries must implement themselves. It does not order any country to do anything, but it does mean that the people of the world can hold their countries, their governments to account," said Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman.

WHO member states, meeting on Monday in Committee A of the WHA, approved a resolution calling for adoption of the pandemic agreement.

According to a press release on the WHO website, the resolution outlines several steps to advance global preparedness, paving the way for the agreement’s implementation.

It includes the launch of a process to draft and negotiate an annex to the agreement that would establish a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group.

The result of this process will be considered at next year’s WHA. Once the Assembly adopts the PABS annex, the pandemic agreement will then be open for signature and consideration of ratification, including by national legislative bodies.

Following the adoption of the agreement, the Chinese delegation said that China has been actively engaged in the agreement negotiation process.

Guided by the vision of building a global community of health for all, China has upheld true multilateralism, advocated for greater solidarity and cooperation among countries, and supported the WHO in playing its central coordinating role, the Chinese delegation said.

It also noted that China has worked with all parties to improve the global health governance system and strengthen global capacity for prevention, preparedness and response.

China will give an additional 500 million U.S. dollars to the WHO over the next five years, said the Chinese delegation.

The UN body is currently facing a 600 million U.S. dollar hole in its annual budget after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration decided to exit the organization earlier this year.

WHA adopts historic global pandemic agreement to make world more safer from future pandemics

WHA adopts historic global pandemic agreement to make world more safer from future pandemics

China's push toward a greener future is once again in the spotlight at this year's annual political "two sessions", as lawmakers are reviewing a draft ecological environment code, a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework for ecological protection.

The draft code was submitted on March 5 to the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, for deliberation.

Once adopted, it will become China's second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020.

The rule of law has been continuously strengthened to support the country's green progress. China already has more than 30 laws related to environmental protection, along with over 100 sets of administrative regulations and more than 1,000 sets of local rules.

The latest legislative move comes amid China's historic gains in ecological conservation over the past decade or so. Championing green development, the country has recorded the world's fastest growth in forest resources and afforestation, led globally in renewable energy development, and achieved one of the fastest national reductions in energy intensity worldwide.

The 1,242-article draft has five chapters, covering areas including pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development.

Scholars involved in drafting the legislation say the code goes beyond broad legal principles. It is also designed to address environmental issues that affect people's daily lives.

"Electric vehicles are becoming very common in China. My family has one. We all think it environment-friendly. But have you ever thought about this question: how do we deal with the first generation of EV batteries after they expire a few years later? The same goes for wind turbine blades and solar panels," said Ding Lin, assistant professor of the Renmin University of China.

China's environmental progress has drawn global attention in recent years, from improving air quality to expanding renewable energy. Yet amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, some observers have questioned whether the country will maintain the same pace of green transition.

"Last year during the COP30, even some friends who are very familiar with China asked me whether China will continue its green development path. I told them we have gradually worked out new policies. We have a very clear direction and goal. In a world full of uncertainties, we are providing the most certainty," said Wang Yi, an NPC deputy from east China's Zhejiang Province and professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In a country pursuing modernization, taking the time to codify environmental laws sends a clear message: economic growth and environmental protection are not a trade-off to be managed, but a commitment to be upheld. For China, a beautiful environment is not a luxury for the future, it is a right for the present, and a responsibility to the next generation.

"This code reflects China's vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It shows how development and environmental protection can move forward together," said Lyu Zhongmei, vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.

China will accelerate the green transition across the board and cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP by a total of 17 percent in the 2026-2030 period, according to a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development submitted to the NPC for deliberation on March 5.

Chinese lawmakers review draft ecological environment code in major green legislative push