What is the relevance?

Relevance to UNEA-5.2

There is a growing, global scientific and policy consensus that human actions that have a negative impact on animal health and welfare – primarily industrial livestock production and exploitation of wildlife – are the dominant drivers of biodiversity loss and zoonotic disease emergence and contribute significantly to climate change and environmental pollution.

Moreover, there is an increasing body of science and experience that demonstrates that improving animal welfare will produce direct positive benefits for Nature and has the potential to strengthen our collective ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The consideration of animal welfare within UNEP’s policy mandate would help to broaden and enrich its science-policy base, leading to better-informed and more effective policy-making and programme development. It will also help with the achievement of many SDGs, and the prevention of future pandemics.

Linkages with the Sustainable Development Goals

Despite not being explicitly included in the SDGs, animals and animal welfare have been shown to play a significant role in sustainable development for people and the planet. They can contribute to the attainment of most of the SDGs if their care and interests are taken fully into account.

Recent peer-reviewed research shows that there is a strong, positive, mutually reinforcing correlation between achieving the SDhGs and improving animal welfare. The OIE Director General recently said that only if concerns of animal health and animal welfare were observed could some of the SDGs be achieved.

UNEP is the Custodian for 25 SDG indicators – across Goals 6, 8, 12, 14, 15 and 17. These indicators cover topics related to resource management and protection of water, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, circular economy, including the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources; and environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste. These are covered by UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of Work, and all are affected by animal welfare and the use of animals.

In addition to mitigating the key drivers of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and pandemic disease emergence, animal welfare and the humane treatment of animals can also contribute to the attainment of other SDGs including the following (which are by no means exhaustive).