Animal Welfare Impact Assessment in Policy and Development

Integrating animal welfare impact assessment into policy development and infrastructure projects would ensure animal interests are systematically considered.

Key Facts

Environmental impact assessments routinely consider effects on wildlife populations but rarely welfare
No country currently requires mandatory animal welfare impact assessment for infrastructure projects
Agricultural policy reforms such as the EU Green Deal reference welfare but lack impact metrics
The Welfare Quality project developed validated welfare assessment protocols for farm animals
Impact assessment frameworks for wild animal welfare are less developed than for farmed animals
Incorporating welfare into policy assessment would require agreed metrics and trained assessors

Welfare Considerations

Policy decisions in agriculture, transport, urban planning, and development affect billions of animals, yet welfare is rarely systematically assessed. Requiring welfare impact assessment alongside environmental impact assessment would create accountability and force decision-makers to consider animal interests. This is an important but largely untapped policy reform opportunity.

What You Can Do

Advocate for welfare criteria to be included in environmental impact assessment guidelines
Support research into welfare impact assessment methodologies
Engage with planning and development consultations to raise animal welfare concerns
Encourage government agencies to pilot welfare assessment in relevant policy areas
Connect with animal law experts working on welfare impact assessment frameworks