White Oak Pastures in Georgia, rears free-range poultry (pictured). Animals live on the pastures and can perform natural behaviours. The on-site slaughter house cuts out transportation and the on-farm shop sells directly to consumers.

UNFCCC Submission is a call for Just and Sustainable Food Systems

World Animal Protection and Partners Submit Call for Systemic Climate Action in Agriculture to UNFCCC

World Animal Protection, in collaboration with key partners, has submitted a formal input to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) regarding the upcoming workshop on Systemic and Holistic Approaches to Climate Action on Agriculture, Food Systems and Food Security under the Sharm El-Sheikh Joint Work in Agriculture (SJWA).

Angel Flores, External Affairs Manager, World Animal Protection International

The submission - endorsed by the Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), Biodiversity and Biosafety Association (BIBA) Kenya, Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE), and the Center for Energy Ecology and Development (CEED) - emphasises the urgent need for food system transformation to tackle the climate crisis.

A Call for Just and Sustainable Food Systems

Agriculture and food systems are responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, with industrial animal agriculture playing a major role in deforestation, biodiversity loss and the overuse of natural resources.

At the same time, climate change threatens global food security, deepening inequalities and leaving millions vulnerable to hunger.

Our submission calls for a shift towards equitable, humane and sustainable food systems, ensuring that climate action in agriculture addresses both environmental and social justice.

Industrial animal agriculture is not only a leading cause of emissions but also a major driver of animal suffering.

Billions of farmed animals are confined in intensive systems that compromise their welfare, increase disease risks, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

Protecting animal welfare must be a core part of food system transformation, alongside reducing emissions and restoring ecosystems.

In our submission, we advocate for:

A just transition away from industrial animal agriculture toward equitable, humane and sustainable food systems.
An agroecological approach that prioritises environmental regeneration, small-scale farmers and biodiversity protection.
A shift in policy and subsidies to phase out environmentally harmful practices and invest in equitable, humane, and sustainable food systems.
An inclusive approach to climate action, ensuring the voices of farmers, Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable communities are central to decision-making.

Two elephants embrace each other playfully with their trunks

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Strengthening the UNFCCC Process

We have urged the UNFCCC to ensure that discussions under the SJWA workshop are transparent, inclusive and guided by science and lived experiences.

The submission recommends:

A balanced representation of civil society, farmers and Indigenous groups.
Conflict-of-interest safeguards to prevent corporate influence over climate policies.
A focus on practical solutions, such as reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based fertilisers, cutting food system emissions, and prioritising healthier and climate-friendly diets.

Towards COP30 and Beyond

As we head toward COP30 in Brazil, World Animal Protection and its partners remain committed to ensuring that climate action in agriculture is ambitious, just and rooted in sustainable solutions.

The global food system must shift to protect animals, people and the planet.

Read our submission here.