Summary
The Rio+10 process does not include animal welfare, despite its relevance and political importance. Further, the concept of 'sustainable development' is inadequate where living animals are concerned, and should be replaced by 'humane and sustainable development'. Intensive livestock farming should be specifically examined and included due to its lack of sustainability on a number of fronts. The lack of sustainability (and desirability) of predicted increased meat consumption should be addressed through education. 

A strong international political system is needed if sustainable development is to become a reality. This would need to prioritise humane and sustainable development, with trade being relegated to a supporting role. It would need to be democratic and open. 

Agriculture
Factory farming (industrial livestock farming) is an example of an industry that has grown untrammelled to become unsustainable. Research by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is now available on the following Web Site: - http://www.ciwf-livestock-revolution.co.uk/. This includes powerful arguments why industrial livestock farming systems are not sustainable or beneficial to poverty alleviation targets in developing countries. The myriad of detrimental impacts of these inhumane and unsustainable systems adversely affect socio-economic and rural structures, health, food security, family and small-scale farmers, the environment and genetic diversity. Policy makers are asked to assess how this detrimental development can be halted, and energies redirected to growing food that is gentle to the animals and the environment, as well as being healthy and safe to eat, affordable and accessible to the poorest of the poor. Organic and free-range products should be supported and promoted. 
On the above Web Site, relevant recommendations can be found by following 'resources' link and accessing full report summary (conclusions). 

This is an area that involves a wide range of sustainability issues, but has not yet been covered in any depth in the Rio+10 process to date.


Consumption
Another major point with regard to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) relates to sustainable consumption patterns. This is that public education is needed with regard to the detrimental impact of excessive consumption of livestock products. At present, future demand models predict massive increases in meat consumption, and policy makers question the possibility of providing the increased production 'necessary to meet this demand'. In the interests of sustainability, we should be aiming actively to decrease the level of demand - particularly as WHO nutritional guidance supports a predominantly plant-based diet. This is especially true for developed countries where massive over-consumption of meat products causes well-documented health problems, and 20% of the world's population consumes around 80% of its milk and dairy products. 
This aspect should be considered in the Rio+10 process.


Animal Welfare
Animals are an integral part of our environment, and as sentient beings an extremely important part. The moral and political importance of animal welfare is increasingly being recognised by philosophers and religious figures. The media frequently highlights welfare issues and governments - particularly in the developed world - feel growing pressure from their electorates in respect of animal welfare issues.

The importance of animal welfare is increasingly being recognised by governments, European institutions and development authorities. 

The Council of Europe has concluded five animal protection conventions and recognises that 'man has a moral obligation to respect all animals and to have due consideration for their capacity for suffering and memory'. 

The European Union has added a Protocol on animal welfare to its founding Treaty, which recognises animals as sentient beings and calls upon the Community to 'pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals'. It has also introduced a whole raft of farm animal welfare legislation. 

Many individual countries have also introduced national animal welfare legislation and enforcement structures. 

The OECD reflected this growing concern in a press release on the Agricultural Outlook 2000-2005: "OECD governments face many less familiar challenges in relation to agricultural markets, not only from growing consumer concerns, but also from broader public unease over a whole range of issues such as methods of production, food quality and safety, animal welfare and the environment. These are coming under intense public scrutiny." 

The World Bank has now agreed to establish an animal welfare' working group for development, the International Epizootics Organisation (OIE) is considering embracing animal welfare in its international remit, and there is an EU proposal for a code of ethics for international trade in food under Codex Alimentarius. The UK's Department of International Development (DFID) is currently finalising a lengthy report on animal welfare that will include, inter alia, an analysis of why animal welfare is important in a development context. 

UNEP has already received two separate proposals for international action on animal welfare (declaration/multilateral action), and is giving these sympathetic considerations. 

Please see the paper by Professor Donald M. Broom (previous Chair of the EU's Scientific Veterinary Committee): Does Present Legislation Help Animal Welfare? , which effectively argues that animal welfare affects sustainability. 

Animal welfare is an 'idea whose time has come' (or rather is long overdue!). But animal welfare has yet to be recognised in the RIO+10 process. 


The Central Importance of Sustainable Development
All appear to be in agreement that is vital that the world begins to develop sustainably, if there is to be a viable future for generations to come. Yet, the recent European Rio+10 Coalition's Second Annual Progress Conference held in Brussels on 10-11 May 2001 agreed that the only thing that was sustainable thus far was poverty. This analysis was even supported by the forthcoming Director General of the WTO, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, who stated that he favoured a change in the leadership of the WTO, with trade being part of a larger movement towards sustainability and development. His fundamental point was that trade should be geared towards sustainable development, not an over-riding 'raison d'être'. 

Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi trained as a development economist, and said that he was raised on the trade theory that international trade would lead to optimum division of labour and specialisation, thus generating growth and prosperity. However, although the theory sounds logical, it has been denounced by the facts. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi's own country, Thailand, was a case in point. It had become increasingly efficient at producing and exporting to feed the world, but was still becoming poorer and poorer. 

Sustainable development is all about strategic thinking. It is not about being buffeted by the flowing forces of free trade and materialism. (And reactive devices like 'assessment, monitoring and early warning capacity' are inadequate for this reason). 

What we now have is economic globalisation. Yet we have no political globalisation. No strategic plan or blueprint for the future, no checks and balances, no international legislation of any real effect, and no international enforcement authority. This leaves multinational corporations to act out their endgame with minimal hindrance, with their primary concern being to 'satisfice' the short-term objectives of shareholders. 

In this (supposed) post-materialist age we need a new paradigm: One that is based on sustainable development - to use the new buzz phrase. Or, in the more prosaic terms of native communities: 'Reverence and respect for life'. Or perhaps a modern combination of the two: Humane (or compassionate) sustainability. Certainly, where life is concerned (for example, wildlife or farm animals, the concept of 'sustainability' is inadequate, as it does not recognise the sentiency of animals and man's obligation to treat them humanely (rather than simply in a utilitarian manner)). As the Dalai Lama said; "I truly believe that compassion provides the basis of human survival, the real value of human life, and without that there is a basic piece missing". 

The Rio+10 process should seek to change its focus from sustainable development to 'humane and sustainable' development.

Sustainable Development and Democracy
With the December 1999 demonstrations at Seattle (WTO) and other subsequent international meetings/summits, it is clear that society is rebelling against the neo-liberal economic globalisation paradigm. These demonstrations are likely to increase, not to subside, as greater understanding of the complex issues involved is generated. A new 'World Order' is needed, one that not only prioritises sustainable development, but one that is founded on sustainable principles of governance - such as democracy, accountability, openness and transparency. Governance that seeks empowerment, rather than power structures. 

If the UN is to have a meaningful role in international leadership of the future, it will need to work for more coherent, 'joined-up' governance. UNEP may need to develop to play a more active and focal role. The UN will also need to build greater democracy and openness). 

Certainly, civil society from Europe is used to greater consultation and participation than is available within the UN structures and organisations (even for groups with UN consultative status). And as the UN takes on greater importance in international governance, such democracy will be vital. 

Janice Cox
Director - World Animal Net (WAN)
Consultant - Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) 

See also: Professor Donald M. Broom Does Present Legislation Help Animal Welfare? .

And: Rio+10 Useful Background Information

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