Animal Welfare in Climate Adaptation Policy

As climate change intensifies heat stress, disease, and habitat disruption, integrating animal welfare into climate adaptation policy is increasingly urgent.

Key Facts

Heat stress reduces productivity and welfare in livestock, with losses estimated in billions annually
Projected temperature increases will expand the geographic range of parasites affecting livestock and wildlife
Drought-driven feed shortages can force animals into nutritional stress without management intervention
Flooding and wildfires cause mass casualties among both farmed and wild animals
Climate adaptation plans in most countries do not explicitly address animal welfare outcomes
The IPCC has called for integration of animal welfare into climate risk assessments

Welfare Considerations

Animals are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts because they cannot relocate themselves from extreme heat, flooding, or drought as easily as humans. Farm animals in confined systems have no behavioral options to mitigate heat stress. Wildlife populations face habitat loss at rates that outpace their ability to adapt. Adaptation policies that ignore animal welfare miss both ethical obligations and practical consequences for food security and ecosystem function.

What You Can Do

Advocate for animal welfare to be included in national climate adaptation strategies
Support organizations working on climate resilience for farm animal welfare
Choose animal products from production systems with lower environmental footprints
Back research into heat-tolerant breeds and climate-resilient farming practices
Raise awareness that climate change is an animal welfare issue, not only a human one