Wildlife

Climate Change and Wildlife Welfare

Climate change is an increasingly significant driver of wildlife welfare harm through habitat disruption, food insecurity, and extreme weather events.

Key Facts

Spring phenology mismatches affect bird breeding success as insect peaks shift earlier
Arctic sea ice loss reduces foraging habitat for polar bears and walrus
Coral bleaching events cause mass mortality in reef-dependent fish and invertebrate species
Drought reduces prey availability for predators causing starvation and conflict with humans
Range shifts put species in contact with new diseases and competitors

Welfare Considerations

Climate change causes widespread welfare harm to wildlife through multiple pathways including habitat loss, food insecurity, phenological mismatch, and extreme weather events. Individual animals experience starvation, injury, heat stress, and behavioural disruption. Addressing climate change is therefore a major animal welfare issue, alongside its significance for biodiversity and ecosystem function.

What You Can Do

Support climate change mitigation policies that protect wildlife habitat
Reduce your personal carbon footprint to contribute to climate stabilisation
Support wildlife adaptation programs that help species respond to climate change
Donate to conservation organisations working on climate-resilient habitats
Raise awareness about climate change as an animal welfare issue as well as a conservation concern