The report—produced in partnership with universities, research institutions, UN agencies and the secretariats of several multilateral environmental agreements—identifies key anthropogenic drivers for the emergence of zoonoses, from agricultural intensification and increased demand for animal protein to the conversion of land and climate change. These drivers are destroying natural habitats and seeing humanity exploiting more species, which brings people into closer contact with disease vectors. Once established in humans, these diseases quickly spread across our interconnected world, as we have seen with COVID-19. Understanding these drivers is essential to inform effective strategies and policy responses to prevent future outbreaks. This report makes many recommendations, all based on the One Health approach, which unites experts from multiple disciplines—public health, animal health, plant health and the environment — to deliver outcomes that improve the health of people, wildlife and the planet.