September is shaping up to be a busy month for the global community and the animal welfare movement. Here are three key moments in the global agenda that should be on our radar:
1. The Summit of the Future
- Date: 22-23 September
- Location: UN Headquarters, New York
The Summit of the Future is set to convene world leaders to “forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.” It is a crucial moment to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which are off track.
The expected outcome, a Pact for the Future, has been in negotiations since December 2023. Now in its third iteration, the draft Pact states the UN Member States’ commitment to “(…) protect, conserve and restore biodiversity, ecosystems and wildlife.” WFA has welcomed this language and encouraged countries to broaden this language to include other living species. This would be in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and both the 2016 and 2021 Ministerial Declarations by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Join us: WFA members will participate in the Summit to position animal welfare as an enabler of the environmental and social objectives currently outlined in the Pact. Don’t miss our virtual event “Post-2030, a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development to Realise a Better Future for All.” Secure your spot now!
2. IWC69 | IWC Biennial Commission Meeting
- Date: 23-27 September
- Location: Lima, Peru
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) will hold its biennial meeting in Lima, Peru. The IWC is an inter-governmental organisation, responsible for the management of whaling and conservation of whales.
During this meeting, the IWC will review five resolutions, including one focused on the international legal obligations in commercial whaling activities. This draft resolution “calls upon all countries to report all activities regarding commercial whaling adequately ahead before such activities are done in order to consult and review proposed catch limit calculations with the IWC Scientific Committee.” It also supports continuing the moratorium on killing whales for commercial purposes, aiming to enable whale populations to fully recover and maintain healthy marine ecosystems.
This meeting could be a critical juncture for the future of whales, as two of the five resolutions on the table seek to overturn the moratorium on whaling, including based on food security arguments. These proposals come on the heels of recent decisions by Iceland to resume and Japan to expand their whaling activities.
Stay informed: Follow Whale & Dolphin Conservation’s Ed Goodall on LinkedIn and X for updates from the IWC meeting.
3. The UN High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance
- Date: 26 September
- Location: UN Headquarters, New York
This high-level meeting will bring together global leaders to address the critical challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A political declaration, which is expected to be agreed upon in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations, will outline strategies to tackle AMR. WFA, alongside its members, including Compassion in World Farming and FOUR PAWS, has been actively advocating for the political declaration to call for a reduction of antimicrobial use in agriculture, recognising the importance of improving animal health and welfare as a critical pathway to do so. The Federation has also argued for the need to call for the continued phasing out of the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters, and the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials when used prophylactically. International negotiations on the final text of the political declaration are ongoing – as is our direct engagement in the process.
We expect the declaration will lay the groundwork for future collaboration with countries to improve animal welfare in agri-food systems, as a vital means to prevent AMR.
Stay connected: Monitor our LinkedIn and X for updates and insights as the meeting approaches.
Be in the know
These upcoming events are just a few of the key moments for animal welfare on the global stage. To ensure you don’t miss any important developments, check out our International Policy Calendar and subscribe!
