4^th March 2022, Nairobi – A historic resolution addressing the connections between animal welfare, the environment and sustainable development has passed at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) in Nairobi. 

FOUR PAWS, the global animal welfare organisation, attended the summit as part of the World Federation for Animals coalition. With observer status at the high-level assembly session in Kenya this week, FOUR PAWS said this was a “historic and watershed moment for the animal welfare movement, which was decades in the making.” 

The Animal Welfare – Environment – Sustainable Development Nexus resolution calls on the UN’s Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Executive Director to prepare a report exploring the nexus between animal welfare, the environment and sustainable development.

This report, which would cover several significant considerations, would also include the development of an awareness strategy on this nexus for the benefit of Member States, including Australia.  

"The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare how interconnected animal welfare, human wellbeing and the environment truly are. Billions of animals are subjected to horrific treatment, cramped conditions, poor hygiene, stress, injuries and disease, minimal veterinary care, and lack of genetic diversity as a result of human industries. The appalling conditions make them a ticking time bomb for pandemic disease risk, just as we have seen with zoonotic diseases like COVID-19, SARS, MERS, and Ebola,” said Linigen.

Why this Resolution matters?

“The passing of the Animal Welfare Resolution will tackle the major issues of the nexus between animals and the health of global citizens, whilst simultaneously addressing the climate emergency. Many partners in the World Federation for Animals, of which FOUR PAWS is also a member, have worked towards this important goal,” said Pfabigan. 

“The Resolution intends to move the goalposts ensuring key and essential provisions to set out and acknowledge animals’ sentience, encourage national policies, legislation, and enforcement for the protection of all animals.” 

The Resolution also calls on Member States to protect animals, habitats and meet welfare requirements, in the context of halting biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems, mitigating climate change, preventing pollution, reducing the risk of emerging infectious zoonotic disease, and achieving sustainable development.