Welfare Science

Animal Welfare and Climate Change Adaptation

How climate change affects animal welfare across farmed, companion, and wild animal populations, and adaptation strategies.

Key Facts

Rising temperatures increase heat stress risk in farm animals globally
Changing disease distributions bring new parasites and pathogens to affected regions
Extreme weather events cause acute welfare crises for wildlife and farm animals
Adaptation measures including shade, ventilation, and breed selection mitigate risks
Climate-smart farming approaches seek to protect welfare while reducing emissions

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is an emerging welfare threat requiring proactive adaptation in farming systems, veterinary preparedness, and conservation management.

What You Can Do

Support farms adopting climate adaptation measures for animal welfare
Advocate for climate risk assessment in animal welfare standards
Learn about climate impacts on animal welfare from welfare science organisations