Month: February 2025

Our world is rapidly changing, and policymakers face no shortage of challenges. Solutions are increasingly complex requiring global coordination of all stakeholders, all sectors, significant financial investment and engagement with local communities to ensure sustainability and uptake.

Consider this: an environmental crisis has become a major public health threat. It contributes to millions of deaths per year. It’s on track to cost the world economy trillions. And it requires world leaders and businesses to work together to find a solution – rapidly.

In this case, we’re not talking about climate change or biodiversity loss. But this problem is just as frightening: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when bacteria no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, thereby making antibiotics and other drugs ineffective. Since Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have underpinned all aspects of our public health systems. Today, everything from a knee replacement to root canal to heart surgery is achievable because antibiotics can prevent infection and potential death. Unfortunately, that’s not a guarantee of future effectiveness.

AMR impacts everyone and has multiple drivers. Its causes and effects are complex and affect populations unevenly across the globe. And because of climate change, the problem is getting worse. Rising global temperatures accelerate bacterial growth rates and enhance horizontal gene transfer[1], which increases AMR not only in humans, but animals, plants, and the environment.

Together, climate change and AMR pressure health systems, particularly the most fragile. Without immediate global engagement, our health systems risk being pushed to their breaking point, no matter where you live. A coordinated global response should focus on three priorities: fostering innovative solutions, further driving access and stewardship, and controlling for AMR in the environment.

First, we must foster the innovation required to solve the problem. We do that by developing new drugs, technologies and approaches and ensuring we use the drugs we currently have in the right way to protect their future efficacy. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Innovations must span a wide range – from new diagnostic tools and delivery mechanisms to backstopping a broken antibiotic marketplace. Health systems and policy makers need to be adaptable, delivering the right capabilities at the right time, all tailored to local contexts and the needs of people.

Stewardship and access are also critical in addressing AMR, as responsible management of antibiotic use helps slow the development of resistance. Ensuring equitable access to effective and appropriate treatments also prevents the overuse of antibiotics, reducing potential misuse and the spread of resistance. But this doesn’t look the same to everybody. A key lesson from other global health responses, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and COVID-19, is the vital role of local communities. Only when health systems, policies, and services are co-designed with the communities that use them can they be scalable, sustainable, and effective. Focusing on people, not just diseases, allows health systems to better address the realities they face.

AMR is often spread in the environment we live and work in through public wastewater or improper sanitation, for example. This can even be true in the manufacturing of the very antibiotics we need to combat AMR. Fortunately, the AMR Industry Alliance (AMRIA) published the Antibiotic Manufacturing Standard in June 2022, facilitated by BSI Standards Limited (BSI), providing clear guidance to manufacturers in the global antibiotic supply chain to ensure that their antibiotics are made responsibly, helping to minimize the risk of AMR in the environment, with an accompanying independent certification in line with the AMR IA Standard for Antibiotic manufacturing. In fact, Viatris, a global healthcare company, earned its first BSI Kitemark Certification under the AMRIA Manufacturing Standard in early 2024 in India, with more sites to follow.

Ultimately, we must work together to ensure all people have access to antibiotics when they need them while at the same time ensuring we have the capacity to innovate for the future. Creative approaches to collaboration will be needed, such as PLATform for Innovation of Existing Antibiotics, which brings diverse stakeholders together with a focus to address the gap between the needs and availability of antibiotics in Sweden while optimizing antibiotic use to preserve efficacy of existing antibiotics in the future.[2]

Following the 2024 UNGA High-Level Meeting on AMR, the Global Ministerial Conference and World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, now is a critical time to keep the momentum to continue to raise awareness about AMR and ensure progress. Governments, NGOs, civil society, youth organizations, private sector, universities, and media all have roles to play in keeping AMR at the forefront of global health discussions and preventing the dangers of complacency.

The time to act is now. The future depends on it.

New Film Highlights Cross-Sector Partnerships Tackling AMR

Viatris is committed to partnering with other stakeholders to help secure a future where antibiotics continue saving lives. As part of that commitment, we are participating in PLATform for Innovation of Existing Antibiotics, a Swedish initiative driving cross-sector partnerships to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Learn more through a new film produced for us by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. Click here to view it on YouTube.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9914631/#:~:text=While%20temperatures%20rise%20as%20a,horizontal%20gene%20transfer%20%5B75%5D. 

[2] https://www.platinea.se/w/pl/en 

In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Pilar Galán Gavilá Partner, KPMG in Spain, and Global Head of ESG Legal, KPMG Law, Conor Chell Partner, ESG Law, KPMG in Canada, and Lisa Navarro, Partner, Head of Regulatory Law, KPMG in the UK, who will explore the risks, challenges and regional differences in regulations associated with greenwashing.

Click here to listen to episode 34 of ESG voices

LEEDS, United Kingdom, February 19, 2025 /3BL/ – Antea Group UK is proud to announce that Charlotte Buffoni, EHS Practice Director, has been appointed to the Leadership Team for Inogen Alliance.

The Leadership Team consists of ten members from nine different Associate companies and country locations globally to help guide the operations and implement strategies with the President and direction from the Board of Directors. They provide a local and cultural lens to the global network to represent a diverse base of Associate companies. It is an active group meeting regularly to keep a pulse on the Alliance, maintain engagement across the network, plan meetings and events, and give input and guide initiatives.

Charlotte Buffoni is based in UK and has worked in consultancy for the past 20 years. She joined Antea Group UK in 2024 as EHS Practice Director. Charlotte has extensive experience in delivering focused operational environmental, health and safety compliance assurance to the technology, financial, retail, construction and manufacturing sectors across EMEIA and beyond and works on many key accounts coordinating consulting teams to deliver consistent support to clients.

“I am thrilled to join the Leadership Team to contribute in a meaningful way to the future path of the Alliance operations and new strategies. This position and experience allows me to gain a global perspective to share with our local teams and clients. I look forward to engaging with this team and leading some key initiatives in the year ahead.” Charlotte Buffoni.

Angelique Dickson, President of Inogen Alliance, remarks on the importance of this collaborative Leadership Team: “It is crucial to our global operations to have diverse perspectives and leaders to guide the Alliance forward as we approach a new strategic planning year in 2025. Our high performing Leadership Team allows us to act on the Board’s strategic plan as well as ensure our members can bring value to our clients.”

Charlotte shares her perspective on the value of the Alliance: “What makes Inogen unique is the strong and trusted relationships between individuals and Associates. Utilising both these connections and our local knowledge we are able to support our clients in tackling their multinational environmental, health, safety and sustainability challenges.”

About Inogen Alliance 

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Antea Group 

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. 

February 19, 2025 /3BL/ – With a combination of financial insecurity and heavy creative demands, the music industry can often take a heavy toll on the mental health of artists. Research indicates that 50% of musicians reported symptoms of depression, while an estimated 73% experience anxiety. Yet, despite these alarming figures, many in the industry struggle to access quality mental health care resources.

To help build a safer and more supported environment for artists to thrive, AEG Presents Global Touring has donated $25,000 to the WE GOT YOU! Campaign, an initiative founded by singer-songwriter Chappell Roan in partnership with Backline to support artist healthcare.

AEG Presents Global Touring’s contribution matches Roan’s initial $25,000 donation, amplifying the impact of the WE GOT YOU! Campaign. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to fostering a safer and more supportive environment for artists and industry professionals alike. With increased funding, Backline can continue to expand its services, ensuring that those who bring music to life receive the mental health care they need and deserve.

Backline is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides mental health and wellness resources to music industry professionals and their families. We envision a future where mental health support is affordable and accessible in every aspect of the industry. The average waitlist time for a professional is 3 or more months, but Backline can help clients find providers within 3-7 business days.