ISGlobal Annual Report 2025

2025 has been a year of intense geopolitical tension, eroding the multilateralism and cooperation that global health depends on. Ongoing conflicts, a fragmenting global trade system, a global decline in development aid, and the rise of AI-driven disinformation have strained trust and international collaboration. At the same time, environmental and climate-related threats have intensified, with a surge in mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya and West Nile virus, and extreme climate events -heatwaves, floods and wildfires- affecting millions. But despite these challenges, there have been positive developments: the Seville Commitment reaffirmed support for development cooperation, the WHO Pandemic Agreement marked a step forward in global preparedness, and COP30 advanced the Belém Health Action Plan to strengthen health systems’ adaptation to climate change.

Generating evidence for action

Within this landscape, ISGlobal’s research has continued to generate evidence to inform policy and practice. Our researchers estimated the lives saved through international development aid, and warned of the consequences of its defunding. A series of studies deepened
our understanding of how air pollution during pregnan