Humane Society International
- Date submitted: 1 Nov 2011
- Stakeholder type: Major Group
- Name: Humane Society International
- Submission Document: Not available
General Contenta) What are the expectations for the outcome of Rio+20, and what are the concrete proposals in this regard, including views on a possible structure of the Outcome document? Globally, approximately 67 billion land animals are raised for food each year, and an even larger number of aquatic animals are killed for food. The Rio+20 Summit provides an opportunity to acknowledge and improve the welfare of those animals, and set the global community on a course towards more humane, equitable, and sustainable food production systems. The outcome document must confirm the importance of animal welfare, and call for the consideration of farm animal welfare in all agricultural programs and policies. Specifically, the use of barren battery cages to house egg laying hens, gestation crates (sow stalls) to confine pregnant pigs, and veal crates for infant dairy calves must be strongly discouraged.
b) What are the comments, if any, on existing proposals: e.g., a green economy roadmap, framework for action, sustainable development goals, a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, or others? N/A
c) What are the views on implementation and on how to close the implementation gap, which relevant actors are envisaged as being involved (Governments, specific Major Groups, UN system, IFIs, etc.); Closing the implementation gap in agriculture, particularly as it relates to farm animal production, requires (1) recognition of the negative impacts of industrialized farm animal production and (2) redirecting agricultural investments to reflect societal values relating to environmental sustainability, high levels of animal welfare, and support for small farmers. Currently, however, and despite the failure of industrial animal agriculture to promote and sustain Food security, governments in developed and developing countries, continue to help spread industrial farm animal production throughout the developing world. Policies and investments should be consistent across institutions and should not undercut each other. HSI believes international development and finance institutions, in particular, are key to ensuring humane and sustainable agricultural systems, and must immediately end their support of animal agribusiness, and instead develop innovative ways of financing small-scale farmers in the developing world practicing environmentally sustainable, and animal-welfare friendly, agriculture. Further, given the current and rising threats of food insecurity and climate change, there should be a framework for rapidly redirecting funding and policies towards this more sustainable and humane agricultural landscape. Billions of people and animals around the world depend on it.
Humane Society International is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States, one of the world's largest animal protection organizations ? backed by 11 million people. HSI is creating a better future for animals and people through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide ? On the Web at hsi.org.
d) What specific cooperation mechanisms, partnership arrangements or other implementation tools are envisaged and what is the relevant time frame for the proposed decisions to be reached and actions to be implemented? N/A
Specific Elementsa) Objective of the Conference: To secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges. Contributions could include possible sectoral priorities (e.g., (e.g., energy, food security and sustainable agriculture, technology transfer, water, oceans, sustainable urbanization, sustainable consumption and production, natural disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, biodiversity, etc.) and sectoral initiatives that contribute to integrate the three pillars of sustainable development could be launched and endorsed at Rio+20. N/A
b) Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication: views regarding how green economy can be a means to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions, and poverty eradication; what is its potential added value; experience to date, including what has worked and how to build upon success, what are the challenges and opportunities and how to address the challenges and seize opportunities, and possible elements of an agreement in outcome document on a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication N/A
c) Institutional framework for sustainable development: Priorities and proposals for strengthening individual pillars of sustainable development, as well as those for strengthening integration of the three pillars, at multiple levels; local, national, regional and international. N/A
d) Any proposals for refinement of the two themes. Recall that Resolution 64/236 describes the focus of the Conference: "The focus of the Conference will include the following themes to be discussed and refined during the preparatory process: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development". N/A