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ifawThriving TogetherAchieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Increasing Well-Being for Animals and PeopleAbout This ReportIFAW, alongside many people and organizations around the world, believes that animals and their habitats have inherent value above and beyond an economic one. We understand that animals are critical to human well-being, from supporting communities through eco-tourism to anchoring key ecosystem services such as pest control and pollination. However, when we formulate public policy, the intrinsic value of animals is often ignored completely or considered an afterthought to human-focused development concerns. Therefore, it is incumbent upon animal welfare and conservation organizations to demonstrate to policy makers and their constituencies that animal welfare and conservation are important to people and communities, primarily by identifying the linkages between animal and human welfare. We must connect our work to well understood efforts to promote community development in order to show how those efforts build measurably better human and animal well-being when combined. Perhaps the most widely accepted framework for community development and human well-being today is the United Nations 2030 agenda, more commonly known as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agreed to by all 193 member states of the UN, the goals outline international priorities to achieve sustainable human development. As the preeminent guidance on human development, these goals inform the policies of governments, non-governmental organizations, and the UN system. While the SDGs are certainly more comprehensive than purely economic measures of progress such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), they place limited emphasis on the value of the natural world. Despite this, animals and their habitats are interwoven in the fate of human development. All species, big and small, imperiled and ubiquitous, have an important role to play in building a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future for humans. This report will examine these connections and the value of animal welfare and habitat conservation in achieving each sustainable development goal. As we will see, effective animal welfare and conservation can contribute significantly to the achievement of these goals, and promoting animal welfare provides an important avenue to improve both human and animal lives. IFAW seeks to enhance awareness of the connections between animal welfare, conservation, and human development to inspire greater collaboration through which to achieve a shared goal of improving conditions for all species and the planet.1 Foreword2 The UN Sustainable Development Goals4 SDG 2: Zero Hunger6 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being 7 SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 8 SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth10 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 12 SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production13 SDG 13: Climate Action16 SDG 14: Life Below Water18 SDG 15: Life on Land21 SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 22 Moving Forward in a Changing World23 EndnotesCONTENTS1International Fund for Animal WelfareForewordOne of the fundamental tenets that underlies the philosophy of The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is the fact that animals and their habitats possess intrinsic value above and beyond that which can be defined by conventional economics. Individuals matter in conservation and because each individual is part of a collective whole, we take a holistic approach to protecting animals and the places they call home. Humanity is undeniably linked with our fellow species. Despite societys overall trend toward urbanization and detachment from the natural world, the inherent makeup of the relationship between humans and nature remains critical. It is this relationship that draws continued relevance within the context of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed in 2015, a framework for both human development and well-being that reflects fundamental characteristics that go beyond economic measures. Successful goals for sustainable development must effectively embrace people, animals, and the planet as a whole; the recognition of the relevance of animal issues within that balance is essential. A world of peaceful species coexistence cannot be achieved unless human development and animal welfare agendas ultimately overlap. Animals live in every environment on earth and their presence or absence affects key well-being issues such as food security, employment, public health, and others. Humankind remains not only interconnected to the ecosystem at large but also highly dependent on the health of the natural system and its animals. Regardless of humanitys ability or desire to control nature, animals and habitats do not conform to national boundaries, which gives them key relevance in issues involving international development and ultimately how much of society defines development itself. From tourism to world health, our fates are intertwined with the natural world. As we strive for a world of peaceful coexistence between humans and the natural environment, we at IFAW are committed to incorporating the SDGs as part of our work and spreading the message of the shared struggle for survival between humans and animals across a stage fraught with complex political, economic, cultural and ecological pressures. I welcome you to take this next step with Thriving Together: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Increasing Well-Being for Animals and People, a natural extension of the previous 2016 IFAW report: Measuring What Matters. It invokes a fundamental shift that not only better encapsulates the holistic approach to development that is critical in this globalized world, but also provides us with an enriched perspective through which we can ultimately define true progress. Sincerely,Azzedine Downes President and CEO2 Thriving Together: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Increasing Well-Being for Animals and PeopleThe UN Sustainable Development GoalsIn 2015, the United Nations (UN) developed a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that would serve as a guiding framework for policy and for funding provided by the UN, as well as provide a set of priorities for governments and civil society, through the year 2030. The goals span many social and economic development issues, and each goal includes several measurable targets. Going further than its predecessor, the Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs ambitiously encourage comprehensive action in developed and developing countries to address the needs of all people with emphasis on the underprivileged. It is transformational in its understanding of development, envisioning a world not only devoid of widespread poverty, but one in which the structural inequalities and root causes that lead to poverty and inequality are resolved. The SDGs reflect a holistic approach to development that recognizes the need to incorporate non-economic measures of growth and well-being. Informed by the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and the Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework, the goals incorporate many aspects of human life in order to end poverty in its various forms everywhere. In addition to traditional measures of economic growth such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), areas covered by the SDGs include health, education, gender equality, and the environment. These areas are especially important considering the harmful consequences of GDP-focused development, which has often exacerbated inequalities and environmental degradation. 3International Fund for Animal WelfareHuman Well-Being, SDGs, and AnimalsFor thousands of years, human interaction with animals has shaped the ways we eat, work, relax, and worship. Not only is humanity fundamentally linked to other species, some evidence suggests that our relationship with animals has shaped humans evolutionary path itself.1We owe the development of our species and civilization to animals. While an increasing number of people live detached from animals and the natural world, this relationship remains critical. Indeed, our relationship with the natural world has never been more important than it is at this moment, as demonstrated by unprecedented global climate change and environmental degradation. Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable human development that works for people and our planet, intergovernmental development initiatives such as the SDGs must recognize the relevance of animal issues to their mission. Animals factor into the achievement of several SDGs. While few of the goals directly reference animals, ecosystems, or the natural world, most of the goals indirectly rely on or benefit from animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Animals live in every environment on earth, including artificial environments created by humans, and they affect critical issues such as food security, employment, public health, and climate mitigation. Despite the unique human ability to control our environment to a certain extent, we remain connected to the ecosystem, and we rely on the services provided by healthy natural systems and animals.In addition to affecting a range of areas of development, animal welfare and wildlife conservation issues are especially relevant to international development forums because animals and their habitats do not conform to national boundaries. Animals are also critical to several global networks. They are relevant to international tourism, world health outcomes, transnational organized crime, and even terrorism through poaching and trafficking. These are not issues that can be comprehensively resolved at the national level, and they will require significant international cooperation. IFAW and the SDGs This report builds upon Measuring What Matters, an IFAW report that discusses the necessity of reevaluating the metrics used to measure development to include animals,2which advocates for the adoption of holistic measures such as the Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework in place of purely economic indicators and elucidates how animals contribute to the GNH domain. Moving from the GNH to the SDGs framework is a natural progression; the SDGs were informed by the same holistic approach that led to the development of the GNH framework, which was enshrined in Bhutans constitution in 2008. Although both frameworks recognize the necessity of economic activity, they include it as a component amongst multiple other human needs and values rather than as the singular goal of development. Therefore, IFAW is committed to incorporating the SDGs as part of our work. We strive for a world of peaceful coexistence between humans and the natural environment, and a world where animals are both respected and protected. Such a world cannot be reached unless the human development and animal welfare agendas overlap. We have taken steps to integrate into our projects the communities that live closest to wildlife.This initiates a cycle in which the community benefits, leading to more successful conservation outcomes, ultimately producing additional long-term benefits for the community. Our efforts have covered several SDGs, some of which will be highlighted in this report, which have benefited people and animals around the world. This report reviews a selection of SDGs and how they are intimately connected within the welfare and conservation of animals both domestic and wild. We review specific IFAW case studies that incorporate these connections, demonstrating that wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and human well-being are indeed interwoven and can be improved side by side.SDG 2: Zero HungerHealthy and cared-for domestic animals as well as healthy populations of wild animals support the agricultural and natural processes that promote food security and mitigate global hunger.Despite modest improvements in global hunger, 790 million people still lacked adequate food in 2016.3SDG 2 aims to end hunger and achieve food security through sustainable agriculture and other methods. In order to make progress on this goal, SDG 2 targets the agricultural productivity of small-scale farmers and the sustainability of food production systems.Healthy and cared-for domestic animals as well as healthy populations of wild animals support the agricultural and natural processes that promote food security and mitigate global hunger. Perhaps the most direct relationship between animals and hunger is their role in agriculture. Animal agriculture contributes to 40 percent of the global value of agricultural output and supports the livelihoods of 1.3 billion people.4Currently, poor animal welfare, especially in factory farming conditions, puts unnecessary strain on food production. When animals are healthy and well cared for, they are more productive and provide a higher quality of food.5Animals that are kept in inhumane, crowded enclosures (a characteristic of factory farming), or whose medical needs are ignored, are more likely to get sick and spread disease to other animals. Widespread diseases disrupt food production networks and negatively affect food security.6This is particularly important considering animals provide a key source of protein for people around the world.7Factory farming undermines food security by contributing to fundamental changes in the climate that in turn disrupt food availability. A September 2018 report from the United Nations determined that “climate change, climate variability and extremes are among the key drivers behind the recent uptick in global hunger and one of the leading causes of severe food crises. The cumulative effect of changes in climate is undermining all dimensions of food securityfood availability, access, utilization and stability.”8Animal agriculture makes up 14.5 percent of all human-generated CO2emissions, 53 percent of nitrous oxide emissions, and 44 percent of methane emissions, which are many times more powerful than CO2.9This extreme contribution to global warming would not be possible without concentrated, intensive animal agriculture.10In addition, factory farming is a barrier to achieving food security in structural ways. Factory animal agriculture feeds its livestock grain, and every one kilogram of beef produced requires at least six kilograms of grain. Food resources that could potentially be used to feed people are directed into factory farming. It is estimated that the US alone could feed up to 800 million people with the grain that livestock eat in industrial agriculture.11Furthermore, agriculture relies on ecosystem services provided by healthy, robust wildlife populations. Wild birds and bats act as natural enemies to agricultural pests and provide biological control services in agroecosystems.12Using natural pest control lowers costs for farmers, which leaves more capital available to invest in productivity. Wildlife also supports crop
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