Toward a Lead-Free Future: Mobilizing to End Childhood Lead Exposure
This high-level breakfast event, held during the 2025 UN General Assembly, will convene global leaders to accelerate action and investment to end childhood lead exposure. Anchored in the forward-looking agenda of the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future (PLF), the event will explore one central question:
What will it take—technically, politically, and financially—to achieve a lead-free future for children
Lead poisoning affects 1 in 3 children worldwide, undermining health, education and economic potential—particularly in low- and middle-income countries. After decades of underinvestment, momentum is beginning to shift: governments are stepping up with stronger policies and programs, philanthropic support is expanding what is possible, and political will is aligning with global advocacy to drive change.
This moment—amid shifting development financing priorities—offers an opportunity to make the case for lead mitigation as an urgent and achievable goal within broader agendas on health, equity, education and climate resilience.
This event will be livestreamed, with in-person attendance by invitation only.
Programme:
- 7:15 AM – Breakfast networking reception
- 7:45–8:45 AM – Programme featuring keynote and moderated panel discussions
Speakers:
- H.E. Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister, Bhutan
- Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF
- Honorable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, Ghana
- Tom Hird, Senior Program Associate, Open Philanthropy