A recent important global meeting to set the international action agenda concerning non-communicable diseases (NCDs) failed to draw substantial attention from the emergency medical and surgical community. Advocacy efforts on the part of emergency clinicians should be increased to highlight the critical services we provide and create an approach to addressing NCDs with the most effective balance of preventive and acute care services. Acute care, which encompasses all frontline treatment services for sudden or unexpected injury or illness, can serve as a focal point for the development of the common language and body of research needed to draw the attention of global leaders and policy makers.