For five days in late October (20–24), governments meet in Panama City for what appears to be another decisive round of negotiations for nature, and for the humans and animals who depend on it. They will come together for the 27th meeting of SBSTTA, the scientific body that advises the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
WFA will be there to make one message heard: animals are essential allies for resilient ecosystems, climate action, and public health. Their welfare deserves a place in biodiversity policy.
SBSTTA-27 will review progress on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and prepare recommendations for next year’s CBD Conference of the Parties (COP17). Two agenda items are on our radar:
1. Biodiversity and climate change
Governments will discuss how biodiversity and climate action can better support one another. A draft decision encourages countries to, among others:
- Reduce climate impacts on biodiversity
- Align national plans for biodiversity and climate
- Scale up investment in ecosystem-based solutions for mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction
While the decision is welcome, it can still go further; it can build on progress already made by the international community. For example, countries could build on the recognition made at COP16 of animals’ role in carbon storage and ecosystem services. They could also ensure new investments in climate action are matched with efforts to phase out subsidies and incentives harmful to biodiversity, something already agreed under the GBF.
There have been growing calls for stronger cooperation between the Rio Conventions, and rightly so. To deliver on climate, biodiversity, and land goals, countries need policies that generate co-benefits across all three agendas. Improving animal welfare is a good example of such a cross-cutting policy area: protecting animals and their habitats enhances natural carbon sinks, strengthens ecosystem resilience, and reduces health risks. This is why the Rio Conventions must continue to explore a prospective Joint Work Programme.
2. Biodiversity and health
Governments will also consider how to better link biodiversity policy with human health. The recommendation is for COP17 to:
- Welcome the new IPBES report on biodiversity, water, food, and health
- Request countries and stakeholders to share tools and best practices on implementing the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health
- Strengthen cooperation on biodiversity and health between the CBD and relevant organisations.
The draft decision sets the stage for further progress, but to truly foster coherence, it’s important to link CBD’s work with ongoing World Health Organization processes, including those on the Pandemic Agreement. Drawing on the key messages of the IPBES Nexus Assessment would also help, especially its recommended measures to address unsustainable diets, protect wildlife, and improve animal welfare to reduce disease risks through the One Health approach.
Our side event
On 21 October, WFA will co-host the official side event “Integrating Biodiversity Restoration, Animal Welfare, and One Health: From Guidelines to Action and Evaluation” with partners including IAI, Born Free, Smithsonian, IUCN, and the government of Kenya.
We’ll showcase how animal welfare, One Health, and science-policy tools can work hand in hand to implement the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health and the Global Biodiversity Framework. The event will share practical approaches and invite participants to engage with our forthcoming guidance on turning these commitments into action.
