Prime Highlights
- The GLOWACON Aviation Programme was launched at the Osaka World Expo 2025 to enhance global preparedness against health emergencies.
- The initiative highlights the role of wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) in providing early disease warnings and strengthening international cooperation.
Key Facts
- The programme will install and scale WES systems in international airports to detect health threats before global spread.
- Expressions of interest are open until 17 October 2025, inviting stakeholders to join the initiative.
Background
The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), supported by the EU Delegation to Japan, launched the GLOWACON Aviation Programme at the Osaka World Expo 2025 on 18 September.
The initiative is part of the EU’s Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON). It emphasises the increased importance of wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) to prepare against global health emergencies.
WES offers non-invasive and early warning of disease circulation and acts as a complement to traditional clinical surveillance. By installing and scaling WES systems in international airports, the Aviation Programme seeks to detect potential health threats at an early stage and prevent them from spreading worldwide.
In the opening ceremony, EU representatives stressed that airports serve as gateways not just for travel but also for global health surveillance. The initiative, they said, reflects Europe’s commitment to stronger preparedness and international cooperation in the face of emerging health risks.
The programme was introduced in the presence of policymakers, scientists, health officials, city leaders, and private sector innovators. Discussions at the Expo underlined how wastewater and environmental surveillance can also support the broader “One Health, One Water, One World” approach, linking public health with environmental protection and sustainable development.
Expressions of interest to join the Aviation Programme are open until 17 October.
