Effects of climate change on animal welfare

Mitigation strategies

an anthropogenic intervention to reduce the sources of enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases

adaptation strategies

adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities

How is climate change expected to impact wild animals?

• some ecosystems may cease to exist

• extreme climatic events

• ‘slowly’ changing conditions affect biodiversity

How is climate change expected to impact companion animals?

• heat stress and strokes increase

• heat-related illness risks increase with temperature

How is climate change expected to impact farm animals?

• death due to heat wave/other extreme weather events

• drought can cause hay shortage

How can farmers prepare for extreme events (e.g flooding)?

• select animals that are more heat-resistant

• diversification of agricultural activities to maximise resilience

• farming animals with infrastructure/natural elements providing protection

• eliminating additional stressors (e.g. transportation)

• reducing animal numbers in farms

Why should we rethink what species we raise and where?

• we won’t be able to protect livestock from all extreme events

• avoid livestock farming in regions at risk of severe heat/floodings

What are 4 important veterinary sustainability goals?

• diverse and abundant wildlife

• a good life for animals

• net zero warming

• health and happiness

List examples of extreme climatic events

• exceptionally low ice cover

• mega-wildfires

• mega-drought

• heat domes, heat waves

• mega-floodings

• hurricane, typhoon, cyclones

What are the 3 things fire needs?

• ignitions

• dry fuel

• fuel continuity

What increases the probability that ignition will lead to a fire?

fire weather (more frequent due to CC)

What does fire weather increase the probability of?

ignition leading to fire and that fire will spread due to higher fuel flammability and continuity

Name an example of a wildfire that was an extreme threat to many species

2019 Australian bush fires

How many animals were reported in 2020 to be impacted by the Australian bushfire crisis?

3 billion

Name examples of ‘slowly’ changing conditions that can also affect biodiversity

• coral reef

• kelp forest

What can be done to protect wild animals from the harming consequences of climate change?

• reduce emissions and become carbon negative

• vaccines (e.g. avian influenza)

• establish bigger and enhances protected areas

• facilitate species migration by interconnecting protected areas

• reduce human-caused degradation (no ignitions, no fires)

• habitats restored or recreated

Why do we need to become carbon negative and not carbon neutral?

neutral = keep as we are

negative = restore issues

What do most ignitions come from?

anthropogenic sources (e.g. cigarettes, campfires, sparks from engines, power-lines & arson)

Name examples of where habitats have been restored/recreated

• artificial coral reefs

• offshore oil & gas structures

Why are UK dogs at increased risk of heat-related illness?

• lack of awareness

• no heat acclimatisation

What’s the main challenge/risk factor of heat-related illness in companion animals?

human behaviour (owners uneducated)

What are risk factors of heat-related illnesses in companion animals?

• age

• obesity

• human behaviour

Why are mitigation strategies key to reduce the harms imposed by climate change?

there’s a limit to what we can adapt to