One Health for the SDGs but also for Nature and Animals

Earlier this year, an open-access paper on One Health and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) was published (in the CABI One Health journal). The authors (from institutions in the USA, Sweden,and Brazil) noted that human, non-human, and environmental health are linked in the One Health framework. The authors also argued that animals matter for sustainable development, although animal welfare is currently not included in sustainable development governance. For example, they state that “the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 goals and 169 targets on topics ranging fromhunger and poverty to peace and justice.” Several SDG targets address biodiversity and the environmentbut mostly reference nature’s value to promote human benefit rather than being of intrinsic value itself.Also, none of the targets reference animal welfare. The situation for the environment and animals may be changing. A recent resolution by the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) recommends producing a report that aims to improve human understanding of the nexus between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainable developmen