The World Federation for Animals (WFA), representing 50 NGOs worldwide, has participated in the consultations for the draft ministerial declaration of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 6). As the negotiations continue, WFA has challenged the current Zero draft as falling short of the level of urgency and ambition needed to effectively address the environmental challenges of our time. International efforts to combat the planetary crisis need acceleration, and protecting animals can help provide the transformation needed.
With the forthcoming UNEA 6 session set to convene early next year in Nairobi, WFA recognises the crucial role of the ministerial declaration in guiding international efforts towards combating climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. As an organisation committed to animal welfare, WFA urges UNEA Member States to seize this opportunity and ensure that the final declaration sets the stage for meaningful and transformative action for environmental protection.
WFA believes that the ministerial declaration must surpass mere reiterations of commitments made in the past. It is essential that UNEA’s Ministerial Declaration includes a bold commitment to combating the global environmental crises we face.
Call to action
To promote effective, inclusive, and sustainable actions, WFA has suggested that the UNEA 6 ministerial declaration should incorporate the following key calls to action:
- To inspire decisive and collective action to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, member states need to reinforce the shift to a more balanced and integrated approach that values the environmental dimension equally to the economic and social dimensions of sustainable development
- The promotion of sustained global efforts to address climate change needs to be in line with the principles of the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, including by securing the carbon capture capacity of natural carbon sinks
- To combat biodiversity loss in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, among others by securing the integrity of ecosystems and protection of its constituent elements, and their interactions
- Deploy greater efforts, as well as mobilise and allocate adequate resources towards the implementation of UNEA resolution 5/1 and urge UNEP to adopt an evidence-based, science-led, and fully consultative process to report on the animal welfare–environment–sustainable development nexus
With 193 member states, UNEA can effect substantial change on a global scale. It is imperative that the final ministerial declaration exhibits a heightened level of ambition, setting a strong foundation for driving the world towards a more sustainable future.
