WHO Director-General's closing remarks at the Third Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement – 7 November 2025

Our co-chairs Your Excellency Ambassador Tovar and Mr Matthew Harpur,

Our Vice-Chairs, Ambassador Dlamini, Dr Hanan, Dr Viroj and Ms Heyward;

Honourable Members of the IGWG,

Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,

Good morning from Brazil, and I'm sorry I can't be with you in person.

As you know, I'm here for the COP30 Leaders' Summit, where WHO is working to make health much more prominent in climate change negotiations.

As you know, the best argument for climate change is health. People understand when we say more children are getting asthma, cardiovascular disease is increasing and malaria and dengue are invading new places.

Indeed, there are many similarities between what is happening here in Belém and what is happening there in Geneva.

Like climate change, the threat of pandemics is a shared threat that demands a shared response.

Like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Pandemic Agreement will be a powerful instrument of international law, and a powerful testament to multilateralism.

And like the negotiations here at COP30, I know the negotiations there in Geneva are not easy.

I know that differences remain and that you have much hard work ahead of you to bridge those differences.

But you are doing the most important thing - and that's talking to each other, and listening to each other.

Thank you for the spirit of open and frank dialogue that you have shown this week.

It is that spirit that gives me confidence that not only will you meet the deadline, but you will deliver a PABS system that is operational, functional and - most importantly - that saves lives.

My thanks also to the Bureau for its steady leadership.

On behalf of the entire WHO Secretariat, I reaffirm our full support for your work.

Together, we are shaping a framework that will help to make the world safer when - not if - the next pandemic strikes.

Because in the end, solidarity is our best immunity.

My thanks to you all once again, and I wish you a safe journey home.