Welfare Science

Welfare Science: Welfare Impact of Climate Change

Climate change is creating new and amplified welfare challenges for farm animals, wild animals and companion animals through heat stress, disease shifts and habitat loss.

Key Facts

Heat stress in farm animals reduces productivity, health and welfare simultaneously
Climate-linked drought reduces pasture quality causing livestock nutritional stress
Shifting parasite distributions bring new disease burdens to naive animal populations
Wildfire frequency and intensity directly causes mass wildlife mortality and injury
Sea temperature rise bleaches coral habitats affecting marine wildlife welfare globally

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is a macro-scale welfare threat affecting billions of animals across all sectors. The welfare consequences of climate inaction are enormous. Supporting climate mitigation is therefore one of the most impactful pro-animal welfare actions available to individuals and institutions.

What You Can Do

Reduce personal carbon footprint through diet, travel and energy choices
Support strong climate policy through advocacy and voting
Donate to wildlife organisations developing climate adaptation strategies
Consider climate impact alongside direct welfare criteria in food choices