One Health is a theoretical concept and practical approach for developing and sustaining broad interdisciplinary collaboration – to identify, prevent, and mitigate health risks in humans, animals and the environment. Recognizing that ecosystem linkages and interdependencies necessitate a holistic approach to health issues is a core tenet of One Health.A One Health approach therefore, requires diverse experts and wide ranging stakeholders in addressing the complex health issues at the human – animal – ecosystem interface.
The objective of the project is to operationalize a One Health approach in the Arctic to forge co-equal, all inclusive collaborations across multiple scientific disciplines and Arctic communities in order to enhance resiliency of the Arctic inhabitants through an enhanced understanding of climatic change impacts on health risks to people, animals, and the environment. This is a multi-phase project to help advance the fundamental understanding of climate change vulnerabilities and impacts on community and ecosystem health in the Arctic region, and to encourage the transition from knowledge to action through the development of decision-making tools.
The associated health risks for humans, animals and plants include potential changes in pathogen proliferation and vector borne diseases, effects on drinking water quality and availability, environmental contamination, effects on the quality and availability of food, and changes in animal species distribution, among others.
One Arctic, One Health seeks to develop a collaborative network of Arctic One Health (human-animal-environmental health nexus) stakeholders via knowledge sharing, table top exercises, and collaborative investigations of One Health phenomena such as disease outbreaks and natural disasters. A key outcome of the project is to self-sustain the network after the life of the Arctic Council project, via an independent set of “One Health hubs” (points of contact) that continue to facilitate One Health work in the circumpolar North.
Endorsed SDWG Project Proposal available HERE.
Arctic Council Working Group