Emerging from its ancestral bat host in December, 2019, 1 possibly at a wildlife trading market in Wuhan, China, 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had by mid-April, 2020, spread globally, infecting more than 2 million individuals and causing at least 130 000 deaths. Travel restrictions were imposed, borders sealed, schools and businesses closed, and more than half of humanity locked down, all to reduce the spread of this virus. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not just a global pandemic caused by the zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 but represents a critical pivot point in modern times, joining only a few episodes in recorded history. The unique features of this world-changing event are its suspected origin at the human–environment–animal interface and its rapid explosion as a result of unprecedented levels of human interconnectivity, mobility, and global trade. 3 COVID-19 epitomises why One Health, which recognises the fundamental interconnectedness of humans, animals, and their shared environment, is key to ensuring the healthy and sustainable future of the planet.

There is important global consensus on many issues around health and the sustainability of our socioeconomy and ecosystems. For example, global health challenges, such as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and noncommunicable diseases, are further fuelled by global trends related to climate change, growing populations, consumerism, poverty, conflict, and migration. 4 However, a great deal still remains unclear or unknown. The world cannot afford to proceed without some foresight because missteps can lead to disaster. Neither can the world afford to be rigid in the charted path. Flexibility will be required as knowledge advances.