Cape Town, 29 November 2023 – This year's Conference of the Parties (COP28) starts this Thursday hosted by the petrostate of the UAE. This controversial presidency will be overseeing the culmination of the first ever global assessment of all countries’ climate plans with a view to put us back on track to meet our climate goals. The Global Stocktake, will confirm that the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implemented by the countries are failing to meet the maximum target of 1.5°C global warming of the Paris Agreement. With food systems accounting for over a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS considers this a crucial opportunity for governments to commit to the end of factory farming as part of their NDCs and a drastic reduction in global meat and dairy production.

In addition to a central point of discussion, that of fossil fuels and the phase-out from coal and natural gas, the talks will for the first time also focus on global food systems with world leaders signing up to a declaration on resilient food systems, sustainable agriculture and climate action.

Animal welfare and the climate crisis

Currently, animals are bred to fit the needs of a broken system that prioritises profit over climate concerns and subjects sentient beings to chronic stress, fear and pain. Another model based on  positive animal welfare interventions is urgently needed. Most importantly, fewer animals overall means fewer emissions and more space for the remaining animals to perform their natural behaviours. Permanent access to maintained extensive pastures and limiting herd sizes are some of the measures that can directly improve the lives of 80 billion farm animals every year and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

“Unfortunately, most countries are expanding their intensive livestock farming operations with an increasing belief in technical solutions rather than real sustainable transformation of how we farm. We call on countries to use this stocktaking moment to ensure their NDCs from 2024 onwards reduce the number of animals we farm and give greater importance to animal welfare in relation to our environment,” concludes Pfabigan.