Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract The quest of global animal welfare has been the subject of vigorous debate in legal scholarship. However, an entry point which the legal literature has so far failed to consider is sustainable development. To date, the uneasy relationship between sustainable development and animal welfare remains remarkably underexplored, and legal research investigating the interdependence of sustainable development and animal welfare is almost non‐existent. This article proposes a new approach to global animal welfare law through sustainable development by examining four key questions: (i) does sustainable development currently addresses animal welfare; (ii) can sustainable development integrate animal welfare; (iii) if so, how could this be operationalized; and (iv) is sustainable development a suitable vehicle to advance animal welfare? The article shows that sustainable development is both conceptually and substantively an adequate candidate for animal welfare integration. Moreover, the article claims that the sustainable development approach to animal welfare is not only conducive for global animal welfare law but also allows for a strong entrenchment of animal welfare at the national level. In addition, the article argues that such integration is also beneficial for sustainable development itself.
Elien Verniers (Thu,) studied this question.