Surveying the state of animal welfare globally — significant advances, persistent challenges, and the scale of work remaining.
Animal welfare globally is in a period of genuine but uneven progress. Corporate commitments, strengthening legislation, growing welfare science, and alternative protein development are all positive trends. Against these positives are the persistent scale of farm animal suffering in intensive systems, accelerating wildlife population declines, and the challenge of applying welfare improvements in developing countries where regulatory capacity and enforcement are limited. The trajectory is toward better welfare, but the pace is too slow relative to the suffering that continues daily. Sustaining and accelerating this progress requires the continued engagement of advocates, scientists, corporations, legislators, and consumers who understand that animal welfare is both morally urgent and practically achievable.