Sustainability And Animal Protection Connnections

Placing ecologically-based sustainability at one end of the spectrum, and sustainable development at the other, the author defines key questions to differentiate when sustainability is and is not an animal-friendly concept. She also discusses the complex ethical bases of the environmental and animal protection movements, and critiques the increased impact on animals of “Green Economy” sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

“There is some skepticism among animal advocates toward the concept of sustainability. However, there is potential for a deep alliance between the two to advance both. This presentation introduces the different conceptualizations of sustainability, with sustainability steeped in an ecological worldview at one end of a continuum, and the concept of sustainable development at the other end. Animal protection concerns are placed high on the agenda at the sustainability end of this continuum, and lowest at the sustainable development end. The concept of sustainable development, rather than sustainability, has been widely endorsed and adopted by governments, academics and activists, to the detriment of animal protection. In recent years, sustainable development has found new shape in the Green Economy model internationally, including in the Asia-Pacific Region. Under this concept, the exploitation of animals is being further sanctioned by incorporating animals in the market logic of values. The author concludes, among other things, that animal advocates need to get involved and begin to influence the sustainability discourse rather than leaving it to industry, governments and others. One avenue lies in forging out the common ground that resides in the different dimensions of justice which have been used to advance sustainability thinking, as well as the animal protection discourse.”