NGOs applaud game-changing UN animal welfare resolution to tackle environmental crisis

The UN has acknowledged for the first time the link between animal welfare and environmental damage, in a game-changing resolution.

The resolution, called the Nexus between Animal Welfare, Environment and Sustainable Development, calls on the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to prepare a report exploring the link between the welfare of animals and environmental problems plaguing the planet.

It was adopted at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), held in Nairobi, Kenya, having been sponsored by seven member states: Ghana, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Pakistan.

Raphael Podselver, Head of UN Advocacy at food awareness organisation ProVeg International, who worked with other NGOs to push the approval of the resolution, said: “This is a truly historic resolution. It has started a ball rolling that will ensure greater awareness across the world that the ways animals are treated affects not just the animals themselves but human health and the health of our environment.”

Among the organisations that worked hard to bring the resolution to the table were World Federation for Animals, African Network for Animal Welfare, FOUR PAWS and Compassion in World Farming.

It calls upon UNEP to produce a report in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), One-Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), and other stakeholders on the nexus between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainable development.

ProVeg International had already urged member states attending the meeting to put sustainable food systems at the centre of the talks in a letter directed at UN leaders that was signed by more than 150 other NGOs.

ProVeg spoke to the head of the UNEA and received acknowledgement that there was a need to talk more about food systems at the next assembly meeting (UNEA 6).

SourceProVeg

NEWS CATEGORIES

LATEST NEWS

Government agrees to publish faster response to OEP assessment, following pressure from the Environmental Audit Committee

The Government has agreed to accelerate publishing its response to the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) annual assessment report, following pressure from the Environmental...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed champions private investment in nature recovery as the government launches a new call for evidence

Speaking to leading figures from financial institutions, property, retail and sustainability sectors at a roundtable event in London yesterday (12 June 2025), the Environment...

River conditions show importance of ongoing monitoring in Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is warning that despite rain in most of the country, current river flow monitoring shows sustained local pressure...

ELIQUO HYDROK strengthens executive team with the appointment of Matt Down as joint MD

Matt Down, who has joined leading water engineering solutions company, ELIQUO HYDROK as joint MD, working alongside Peter Wroe, shares his thoughts as to...