Animal Welfare and Climate Change — Overview

Climate change poses one of the greatest threats to animal welfare globally, affecting billions of wild animals through habitat loss, extreme weather and disrupted food webs.

Key Facts

Around 1 million species are at risk of extinction partly due to climate-driven habitat change
Mass bleaching events have killed over 50% of the Great Barrier Reef coral and its associated fauna
Arctic sea ice loss affects polar bears, walrus and ice-dependent seals
Climate-driven range shifts are causing mismatches between migrating birds and their food
Extreme heat events cause mass mortality of flying foxes, fish, corals and livestock

Welfare Considerations

Climate change affects animal welfare through multiple pathways: habitat destruction reduces food availability and increases competition; extreme temperatures cause direct mortality and chronic heat stress; disrupted phenology creates mismatches between breeding and food availability; sea level rise eliminates nesting habitat; ocean acidification impairs crustacean shell formation and fish sensory biology. Every degree of warming translates to increased animal suffering at massive scale.

What You Can Do

Reduce your personal carbon footprint through diet, transport and energy choices
Support political candidates and parties committed to strong climate action
Donate to wildlife adaptation programmes including habitat corridors and assisted migration
Reduce meat and dairy consumption — livestock farming contributes 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions