Today (3 December) on the first ever Health Day at COP, the COP28 Presidency - in partnership with the World Health Organization and UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention - announced the ‘COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health’ to place health at the heart of climate action and accelerate the development of climate-resilient, sustainable and equitable health systems.

In response, Eirini Pitsilidi, Head of International Affairs at Compassion in World Farming, commented:

“Compassion in World Farming welcomes the COP28 United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Declaration on Climate and Health, particularly its recognition that human, animal, environment, and climate health are deeply linked and must be addressed as such. We are also pleased that it recognises the benefits for human health and climate change that can be achieved by shifting to sustainable and healthy diets. We are eager to engage with signatories to the Declaration on reducing animal-sourced food consumption in high consuming populations to healthy and sustainable levels.

“We also welcome the Declaration’s commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially as the world prepares for the United Nations General Assembly 2024 High Level Meeting on AMR. We know that around 70 per cent of antibiotics sold worldwide are used in livestock agriculture and that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animals can contribute to AMR. We are keen to engage with signatories to explore how nature-positive practices in animal agriculture – such as regenerative and agroecological farming – have the potential to significantly reduce the need for antibiotic use, especially when combined with higher animal welfare practices.

“We trust this progressive Declaration will galvanise action across the 123 signatory countries and we look forward to engaging with stakeholders at COP28 and beyond to ensure our food systems maximises health and welfare for people, animals and our planet.”

Read more about Compassion’s work at COP28.