World Animal Protection (WAP) has officially launched a campaign advocating for a just transition away from industrial animal agriculture.

During an April 29 webinar, the organisation announced its active participation in the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil, where it will be calling for urgent action to reform global food systems in alignment with climate, biodiversity and human rights goals.

The new campaign presents a compelling case for phasing out industrial factory farming and transitioning to equitable, humane and sustainable food systems.

External Affairs Lead at World Animal Protection Sally Kahiu said the move was essential to meeting international climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement and safeguarding public health and planetary boundaries.

“Our global food system, especially industrial animal agriculture, not only accelerates biodiversity loss, depletes water resources and contributes to rural poverty and public health crises but also compromises animal welfare on a massive scale,” she said.

Kahiu added that as the journey of mobilising like-minded stakeholders starts, their rallying call is just one: “We’re calling on world leaders at this year’s COP 30 to recognise the urgent need for a global food system that places people, animals, and the planet over profit. It’s about rebuilding food systems that are just, resilient, and climate safe”.

Based on their previous research, World Animal Protection highlights that food system emissions alone could derail efforts to stay below the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius warming target even if fossil fuel use is eliminated.

It calls for a 50 per cent reduction in global emissions from animal production by 2030, alongside a strong shift toward plant-rich diets and agro-ecological practices, especially in high-consuming and high-producing countries.

The expansion of industrial animal agriculture has led to poor living conditions for billions of animals, increased risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks and the overuse of antibiotics, contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

Additionally, the destruction of natural habitats for agricultural expansion for animal feed and production threatens wildlife populations, driving some species to the brink of extinction and further destabilising ecosystems.

World Animal Protection’s campaign emphasises phasing out industrial animal farming in favour of small- and medium-scale diversified farms and protecting and empowering smallholder farmers and marginalised communities.

It also calls for accountability for corporations driving social and environmental harm and the need for inclusive governance and an indigenous rights-based approach to food and climate policy.

According to WAP, they will continue to mobilise public support and collaborate with allies across civil society, indigenous groups, youth and sustainable farming networks in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to advocate for a just transition.

World Animal Protection is the global voice for animal welfare and is working on their global strategy to end factory farming and create a humane and sustainable food system that puts animals first.

Brazil will host COP30 in November 2025 in Belém, which is a key event for global climate negotiations, marking the 20th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol and the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Wangari Ndirangu