Regulators are central to ensuring that the transition to greener pharmaceuticals strengthens access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines. The Greener Pharmaceuticals’ Regulatory Highway initiative seeks to enable this transition through science, collaboration and practical regulatory solutions.
The environmental footprint of pharmaceutical products is receiving increasing attention as health systems confront the impacts of climate change. Across the pharmaceutical value chain – from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to distribution – medicines contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, making decarbonization both a public health and environmental priority.
In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) is developing a White Paper on a Greener Pharmaceuticals’ Regulatory Highway. This work will examine how regulatory systems can enable and accelerate the transition towards lower-carbon pharmaceutical products, while safeguarding access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines.
This global consultation marks a key milestone in the development of the White Paper. It will bring together regulators, industry representatives and global health stakeholders to validate and strengthen initial findings from a horizon-scanning exercise, and to help shape the direction of the final document.
Meeting objectives
validate and enrich preliminary findings from the horizon-scanning exercise
identify key regulatory challenges and opportunities across the pharmaceutical value chain
prioritize areas for regulatory action and collaboration
strengthen alignment among regulators, industry and global health partners
inform the structure and content of the forthcoming White Paper
Expected outcomes
a shared understanding of regulatory implications for pharmaceutical decarbonization,
a prioritized set of challenges and opportunities for regulatory action,
inputs to the evidence base and narrative of the White Paper,
strengthened multi-stakeholder engagement and alignment .
Process and next steps
This consultation is part of a broader, phased process to develop the White Paper:
8 May 2026: Global consultation to validate horizon-scanning findings
19 June 2026: Global Regulators Summit to align on priorities and build momentum for coordinated actions
July 2026: Official launch of the White Paper
The final publication will provide an evidence-based framework outlining how regulators can act as enablers of pharmaceutical decarbonization within existing mandates and regulatory systems.
Link to the preliminary agenda.
This global consultation will be held online and by invitation only.
For further information, please contact: regulation_prequalification@who.int