By Charlotte Johnson, student at University of Winchester 

On March 2, Member States at the UNEA (the United Nations Environment Assembly) adopted the ‘Animal Welfare–Environment–Sustainable Development Nexus’ resolution. This momentous and pioneering resolution is the only resolution with direct reference to animal welfare to be tabled at the UNEA. It acknowledges the vital relationship between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainable development.  

The resolution also appropriately acts upon the ‘Sustainable Development Agenda’, which was put forward in the UN General Assembly Resolution 70/1. Prior to this resolution, devoted action in the UN policy process to protect animal welfare has been sparse and inadequate, thus having catastrophic effects on global biodiversity, climate change, pollution, and environmental health. This resolution may have the power to accelerate intergovernmental action for the environment.  

The adoption of this resolution was the result of bravery and determination of the delegates of the Africa Animal Welfare Conference of 2019 in Ethiopia, who led the conference secretariat through the resolution. This process allowed them to connect with fellow member states to endorse and sponsor the resolution. The resolution won the compelling support of all Member States at UNEA 5.2. Of these 193 Member States, seven went on to sponsor the resolution. They urged the executive director of UNEP (the United Nations Environment Program) to create a report in co-operation with the Tri Partite Alliance members and other stakeholders on the Nexus.  

ANAW (African Network for Animal Welfare), AU-IBAR (African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources), and the WFA (World Federation for Animals), alongside their regional and international partners, organised this Member State support. 

Large technical committees also guided outreach engagement. The committees comprised international animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA and IFAW. The team joined forces with many animal welfare and environmental conservation NGOs to assist the sponsoring states in their efforts to increase awareness and support for the resolution.  

James Yeates, the Chief Executive Officer for WFA, said he and his team are ‘proud of this watershed moment for the animal protection movement’. Josphat Ngonyo, Founder and Executive Director for ANAW, said that the resolution has taken a big ‘step forward to protect humans, animals, and the planet’.