Investors representing over $13 trillion in combined assets have signed a statement urging global leaders and policymakers to take action to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ahead of the UN General Assembly’s second-ever High-Level Meeting on AMR later this month.
Collaborating to Tackle AMR
The statement is the latest call to action from the Investor Action on AMR (IAAMR) initiative, founded by the Access to Medicine Foundation, the $75 trillion backed FAIRR investor network and the UK Department of Health and Social Care.
The 80 investor signatories, including Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) and HESTA, are calling on global leaders and policymakers to act on seven critical asks for tackling AMR – encompassing science-based guidance and targets, effective stewardship and a ‘One Health’ approach considering the interplay between animal, human and environmental health.
Recognised as a leading threat to global health and the economy, the clock is ticking as the cost of AMR becomes clearer. Without substantial action, AMR-related treatments and productivity losses could cost US$412 billion and $443 billion respectively per year by 2035. AMR claimed 1.27 million lives in 2019, more than both HIV and Malaria, a number projected to rise to ten million annually by 2050.
Financial Backing
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred investor recognition of the financial imperative to combat systemic health risks. FAIRR analysis finds that, since 2020, at least 20 shareholder resolutions have targeted AMR risks throughout global supply chains – from pharmaceutical companies and livestock producers, to food retailers and restaurants.
FAIRR and ATMF are both leading well-supported investor engagements on the issue and have partnered with MSCI Sustainability Institute to publish an investor guide on AMR**. This guide was presented to investors during a roundtable in August.
Increased Priority for Policymakers
Despite the current lack of an international framework, awareness among policymakers is also growing. Earlier this year, the UK government pledged £85 million to support the research and development of new antibiotics, improve global health infrastructure, and strengthen surveillance systems to accurately monitor AMR threats.
In line with this investor statement, the UK and Saudi Arabian governments have called for an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-style independent panel on AMR. The proposed panel should monitor the future risks and impacts of AMR and provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments to support decision making and inform global targets.
As leaders prepare for the upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level meeting, the investor community’s message is clear: addressing AMR is not just a health necessity but also an economic imperative. The IAAMR’s seven key asks outline a comprehensive approach to tackling the AMR crisis, emphasising the need for global cooperation, sustained funding, and innovative solutions to ensure a healthier future.
Jeremy Coller, Founder and Chair of FAIRR, said:
“Investors representing over $13 trillion in combined assets have urged leaders to take action to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as they recognise the investment risk AMR poses to many companies in the global food supply chain.
“Companies – from pharma to pork producers – take advantage of lax regulations allowing the routine use of antibiotics in animals enabling them to cut corners in animal welfare, while diminishing antibiotic effectiveness in humans. An estimated 80% of antibiotics are administered to livestock rather than people in the United States alone. Investors recognise that AMR is not only a threat to the health of our people and planet, but to the financial well-being of those who rely on investment returns to fund their retirements.”
