Animal Welfare and Climate Change: Adapting Care for a Warming World

Climate change is creating new and intensifying existing welfare challenges for animals globally. Understanding these impacts helps advocates and caregivers prepare for emerging welfare needs.

Key Facts

Extreme heat events are increasing in frequency and severity, causing heat stress and mortality in wildlife and livestock
Changing precipitation patterns affect water availability for wildlife and alter disease vector distributions
Ocean warming and acidification affect marine animal habitat quality and food availability
Species range shifts as climate changes displace animals from established territories and habitats
Climate change is expected to increase zoonotic disease transmission between wildlife and domestic animals

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is already affecting animal welfare at a global scale, and these impacts will intensify over coming decades. Livestock face increasing heat stress as temperatures rise. Wild animals experience habitat loss as climatic zones shift faster than species can migrate. Marine animals face warmer, more acidic oceans that alter prey availability and physiology. Disease vectors like ticks and mosquitoes expand their range, exposing animals to new parasites. These impacts require welfare responses at multiple levels: individual caregivers can adapt management to reduce heat stress; industries must redesign systems for climate resilience; policy must integrate climate adaptation into animal welfare legislation. Climate action is animal welfare action at global scale.

What You Can Do

Support climate action as a fundamental animal welfare issue
Adapt pet and livestock care for increasing heat stress with shade, cooling, and water access
Learn about the welfare impacts of climate change on wildlife populations in your region
Engage with animal welfare organisations on climate adaptation strategies for animal care