2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for animals. Across UN forums, regional platforms, and high-level conferences, governments are making decisions that can directly affect animal welfare.
In 2025, we saw increased momentum. The World AMR Awareness Campaign brought together academics, government leaders, and stakeholders to address antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform released a policy brief on animal welfare. On the climate front, African leaders showed ambition by pushing for a Global Wildlife for Climate Action Declaration at the next UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP).
Building on this progress, the World Federation for Animals (WFA) is closely following key moments in 2026 that could advance animal welfare within international frameworks. Here we’ll highlight the most important policy opportunities for animals in the year ahead.
Integrating animal welfare into sustainable development
This year, WFA will engage across the UN’s most significant policy moments in New York and beyond, including the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, UN Forum on Forests, Financing for Development Forum, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, UN General Assembly, the Second Committee, the UN Water Conference, Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response Forum, and more.
We will work to maintain momentum to include animals, their welfare, and One Health in the High-Level Political Forum Ministerial Declaration and in key General Assembly resolutions on food, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Advancing animal welfare within global food systems governance
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Subcommittee on Livestock and the Committee on Agriculture are expected to adopt two policy documents that provide guidance to countries on food systems transformation: the Global Plan of Action on Sustainable Livestock Transformation and the Framework on One Health in Agrifood Systems. These frameworks will shape how countries approach livestock production and health for years to come.
The Committee on World Food Security is negotiating policy recommendations to build resilient food systems, expected to be adopted at its 54th session in October. A fourth series of regional meetings will also take place to advance food systems transformation towards 2030, building on the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit. Across these forums, WFA will work to ensure that animal welfare is recognised as integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and to advancing One Health for more sustainable and resilient food systems.
Climate action: a core pillar of WFA in 2026
We will engage directly in the UN climate negotiations under the UNFCCC, participating in the June intersessional meetings and at COP in November to ensure that animals and animal welfare are recognised as integral to effective climate solutions. A key focus will be our collaboration with African states following their announcement of a Wildlife for Climate Declaration.
Throughout the year, we will also contribute to efforts to strengthen synergies across the Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification. In this context, WFA will contribute to Technical Information Exchanges convened by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, highlighting how wildlife protection and sustainable food systems are mutually reinforcing solutions for climate, nature, and people.
Biodiversity and wildlife protection
In 2026, WFA will deepen its engagement across key biodiversity forums, building on the momentum of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Our main focus will be the CBD, particularly SBSTTA/SBSTA 28 and COP 17, where we will advance animal welfare considerations in sustainable wildlife management and demonstrate how wildlife and biodiversity protection deliver mutually reinforcing benefits for climate, nature, and health.
We are planning to develop tailored guidance, with practical tools, to help policymakers integrate animal welfare into national biodiversity strategies in line with the CBD’s Biodiversity and Health Global Action Plan.
Antimicrobial resistance and One Health
As global health governance enters another decisive year, WFA will remain closely engaged in key multilateral processes that shape the future of pandemic prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
We will continue to follow the Pandemic Treaty negotiations, with particular attention to the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex. At the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, we hope to see progress toward the adoption of this annex, alongside the updated Global Action Plan on AMR. Later in the year, the UN General Assembly will focus on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, providing another opportunity to reinforce the role of animals in pandemic frameworks.
Nigeria will host the 5th High-Level Ministerial Meeting on AMR, where the potential adoption of the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action would mark an important milestone in strengthening science-policy linkages. WFA will be present to ensure that animal welfare expertise is reflected in the panel’s structure. On the sidelines, as a Steering Committee member, we will also participate in the 3rd physical plenary session of the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform.
Access our 2026 events calendar to follow these key moments.
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