UN Member States have adopted a political declaration committing to targets and actions to strengthen and accelerate multisectoral progress on addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Among other commitments, they pledge to reduce AMR-associated global deaths by 10% by 2030 compared to the 2019 baseline of 4.95 million deaths.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to medicines, making infections difficult to treat, which increases the risk of severe illness and death. “AMR is already linked to nearly 5 million deaths globally each year, and by 2050, it is projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually,” said UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Philémon Yang, recognizing the declaration “as a strong blueprint for accelerating action against AMR.”

The Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance reaffirms the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the framework to ensure healthy lives. It recognizes “the need for collaborative and multisectoral efforts to address antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach that fosters cooperation across human, animal and plant health, as well as environmental and other relevant sectors.”

Member States commit to sustainable national financing and budgeting activities, as well as to USD 100 million in sustainable catalytic funding, to help at least 60% of countries achieve funded national action plans on AMR by 2030, including through diversifying funding sources and increasing the number of contributors to the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund. 

Countries commit to ensuring that at least 70% of antibiotics used for human health globally belong to the WHO Access group antibiotics, with lower potential to cause AMR. The declaration also sets: targets around infection prevention and control, including 100% of countries having basic water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management services in all health care facilities; commitments on investments to facilitate equitable access to and appropriate use of antimicrobials; and commitments on reporting surveillance data on antimicrobial use and AMR across sectors. 

On agriculture and animal health, countries commit to, by 2030, meaningfully reduce the quantity of antimicrobials used globally in the agri-food systems by prioritizing and funding measures to prevent and control infections and ensuring prudent, responsible, and evidence-based use of antimicrobials in animal health.

The declaration underscores the need to prevent and address the discharge of antimicrobials into the environment, calling for increased research and knowledge on the environmental aspects of AMR and for catalyzing preventative and mitigation actions to address key sources of pollution and prevent contamination of the environment with antimicrobials.

The declaration also includes commitments on: research and development, training, innovation, and manufacturing; surveillance and monitoring; and follow up.

The declaration is the outcome of intergovernmental negotiations, co-facilitated by Malta and Barbados. It was adopted at the second UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, held on 26 September 2024, during the high-level General Debate.

The UNGA President hosted the meeting in collaboration with the Quadripartite organizations – the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with the support of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance. 

Per the declaration, the standing Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on Antimicrobial Resistance will serve as the central coordinating mechanism to support the global response to AMR. [UN Meetings Coverage: 26 September 2024] [UNEP Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on First UNGA High-level Meeting on AMR]