COP29 will be remembered as the 'great finance escape'

COP29 Azerbaijan, held in Baku, united global leaders, policymakers, and activists to tackle urgent climate challenges.

While progress was made on renewable energy and deforestation during COP29, the climate conference failed to address a major contributor to climate change: factory farming.

The industrial livestock sector accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, driven by methane from animals, deforestation for feed crops, and other harmful practices.

Ignoring factory farming's role undermines the potential for comprehensive climate solutions.

World Animal Protection at COP29

Delegates from World Animal Protection attended COP29 to spotlight the critical need for climate policies that tackle factory farming.

Industrial agriculture is not only a leading driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss but also contributes to food insecurity and public health risks, and continues to profit from suffering and destruction.

Our presence emphasised how shifting toward sustainable food systems, including plant-based diets and agroecological farming, is essential to achieving global climate targets.

Advocating for animal welfare

Throughout COP29, we intensified our call for urgent action, making it clear that governments must wake up to the undeniable role of animal agriculture in the climate crisis.

Our message is simple yet urgent: the current food systems are unsustainable, and a just transition to a sustainable alternative is not a future option - it's a critical, immediate necessity.

We hosted several key events, using these platforms to demand that decision-makers act decisively, now, to address the environmental devastation caused by industrial animal farming and ensure a sustainable, equitable food system for generations of humans and animals to come.

Our COP29 agenda

At COP29, we took critical steps to promote sustainable and equitable food systems. Here are the highlights of our contributions to the global conversation on climate action:

Spotlight on Women's Leadership in Agriculture

Our CEO, Tricia Croasdell, delivered an inspiring speech at the China Pavilion, focusing on:

• The critical role women play in agriculture and food systems.
• Success stories of women-led initiatives driving sustainable farming practices.
• How amplifying women's voices can strengthen climate resilience and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis.

Her speech highlighted the transformative potential of inclusive leadership in addressing global challenges.

Creating a vision for food system transformation

At the Action on Food Hub, we addressed the environmental damage caused by factory farming. Our team presented actionable solutions, including:

• Scaling up plant-rich diets to reduce emissions.
• Advocating for agroecological farming practices that support biodiversity and resilience.

These strategies are essential for achieving sustainable food systems and meeting global climate targets.

Launch of the latest briefing paper

Our latest paper, Towards Equitable, Humane, and Sustainable Food Systems, took centre stage in a fireside discussion with Tricia Croasdell and Nika Moeini. The briefing highlights:

• The link between factory farming and escalating climate crises.
• Urgent steps needed to create fair and sustainable global food systems.

This discussion underscores the pressing need to address the dual crises of climate change and industrial farming.

Today, our CEO Tricia Croasdell was in conversation with Nika Moeini, presenting our briefing paper: Towards Equitable, Humane, and Sustainable Food Systems, highlighting the urgent need to address factory farming's impact on the planet. pic.twitter.com/20xvYZVi6X

— World Animal Protection (@MoveTheWorld) November 12, 2024

Highlighting the role of marginalised communities

At the COP29 Side Event Pavilion, we partnered with global experts to discuss the transition to sustainable agriculture. Key takeaways included:

• Field insights on reducing industrial farming's impact on vulnerable communities.
• The importance of empowering marginalised voices to drive climate resilience.

This collaboration showcased how inclusive approaches can transform global food systems.

Media Spotlight: Daily Mirror Exclusive

The Daily Mirror featured an editorial on our briefing paper, amplifying the call to:

• Urgently phase out destructive factory farming.
• Shift towards humane and climate-friendly food systems.

This coverage brought our message to a wider audience, emphasizing the critical need for immediate action.

Phasing out factory farming is essential to meet climate goals.

With factory farming responsible for a third of emissions—more than planes, trains, and cars combined - a shift to humane, sustainable food systems is key. ▼ #ClimateAction #COP29https://t.co/LaBeDCz6qu

— World Animal Protection (@MoveTheWorld) November 14, 2024

Silent Protest: solidarity in action

COP29 delegates participated in a silent protest to:

• Show unity with global south communities disproportionately affected by climate change.
• Raise awareness of the devastating impact of industrial farming on vulnerable populations.

This symbolic act highlighted the urgency of addressing climate injustice at a global scale.

COP29 outcomes

Although finances were agreed to aid those in the global south from climate destruction, more efforts are needed to prevent the damaging events causing it.

Global Director of External Engagement and Media, Kelly Dent, said:

COP29 will be remembered as the 'great finance escape.' After two weeks of contentious negotiations riddled with delay tactics and watered-down ambition, developed nations have once again shirked their responsibilities, offering little more than a token gesture while the planet burns and millions of humans and animals suffer.

Despite productive discussions on renewable energy and deforestation, COP29 largely ignored the role of industrial agriculture. Leaders missed a key opportunity to address the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.

Expanding factory farming in regions like Africa exacerbates these challenges, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities while increasing emissions and environmental degradation.

Without decisive action, the global climate goals remain out of reach.

The journey to COP30

As COP29 concludes, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure animal welfare and sustainable food systems are at the heart of global climate policy.

We will build on the momentum from this year's advocacy and push for transformational change at COP30 in Belem, Brazil.

We will continue to call on governments, industries, and individuals to join us in demanding a future where animals, people, and the planet thrive together. 

To learn more about our climate action activities and solutions, visit our Climate Change Hub.