Policy Options for Antimicrobial Resistance: Exploring Lessons From Environmental Governance

This article explores how lessons from environmental governance can inform more effective policies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health crisis rooted in collective action problems. By analyzing 12 environmental governance frameworks and case studies from climate, water, and biodiversity management, the authors identify three main approaches—market-driven, state-led, and community-centered—and propose nine adaptable policy strategies for AMR governance. These include tools such as Pigouvian taxes, cap-and-trade systems, technology transfer partnerships, and benefit-sharing agreements. The paper stresses the need for context-sensitive, equitable, and collaborative governance that combines state, market, and community roles, supported by continuous evaluation, global cooperation, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.