Infectious disease outbreaks are a threat to global health and security. Current systems for early and effective reporting and monitoring of pathogens and other health threats, and high-quality surveillance of human diseases, face a number of challenges including incomplete
and fragmented early warning and governance systems that are under-incentivised and under-resourced. We propose a number of opportunities for the G20 leaders to address these challenges, including: (1) establishing an ‘Emerging Health Threat Data Platform’ as a public good for independent, co-ordinated and scientist-led reporting and surveillance of pathogens; (2) supporting the development of a framework to incentivise scientists to participate in the platform and; (3) enhancing population health surveillance and vital registration systems through technical and financial investments in both the short and longer term.