Horses must be part of world plan to combat climate change

Equine welfare organisations were among those gathered at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in the UK

- LUCY ELDER

EQUINES“need to be part of plans to cope with climate change" global welfare organisations have stressed from COP26.

The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare, part of the Working Animal Alliance (WAA), were at the UN Climate Change Conference (31 October-12 November), to ensure animals are considered in the battle against global warming. They are also working to ensure the health and safety of working animals is included in negotiations and pledges made at the conference.

An estimated 500 million people in vulnerable communities rely on working equines to support their livelihoods.

From COP26, Ian Cawsey of the Donkey Sanctuary told H&H there are more than 40 million working donkeys, and in many parts of the world they are integral to sustainable living and crucial to emergency responses as well as recovery from climatic events.