World Animal Protection has officially launched a campaign advocating for a just transition away from industrial animal agriculture during a high-profile webinar event held earlier today. As part of the Road to Belém, the organization announced its active participation in the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30), where it will be calling for urgent action to reform global food systems in alignment with climate, biodiversity, and human rights goals.
The new campaign presents a compelling case for phasing out industrial factory farming and transitioning to equitable, humane, and sustainable food systems. This move is essential to meeting international climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement, and safeguarding public health and planetary boundaries.
Sally Kahiu, the External Affairs Lead at World Animal Protection Said, “Our global food system, especially industrial animal agriculture, not only accelerate biodiversity loss, deplete water resources, and contribute to rural poverty and public health crises but also compromise animal welfare on a massive scale. As we start our journey of mobilizing like-minded stakeholders, our rallying call is just one, we’re calling on world leaders in this year’s COP 30 to recognize the urgent need for a global food system that places people, animals, and the planet over profit. It’s about rebuilding food systems that are just, resilient, and climate safe.”
Based on their previous research, World Animal Protection highlights that food system emissions alone could derail efforts to stay below the critical 1.5°C warming target—even if fossil fuel use is eliminated. It calls for a 50% reduction in global emissions from animal production by 2030, alongside a strong shift toward plant-rich diets and agro ecological practices, especially in high-consuming and high-producing countries.
The expansion of industrial animal agriculture has led to poor living conditions for billions of animals, increased risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks and the overuse of antibiotics, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, the destruction of natural habitats for agricultural expansion for animal feed and production threatens wild animal populations, driving species to the brink of extinction and further destabilizing ecosystems.
World Animal Protection’s campaign emphasizes; The phasing out of industrial animal farming in favor of small and medium-scale diversified farms, Protection and empowerment of smallholder farmers, and marginalized communities, Accountability for corporations driving social and environmental harm and recommends need for inclusive governance and indigenous rights-based approach to food and climate policy among others.
World Animal Protection will continue to mobilize public support and collaborate with allies across civil society, Indigenous groups, youth, and sustainable farming networks in the lead-up to COP 30 in Belém, Brazil to advocate for a just transition away from industrial factory farming to an equitable, humane and sustainable food systems globally.
