Animal Welfare and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals—Broadening Students’ Perspectives

Gabriela Olmos Antillón, Håkan Tunón, Daiana de Oliveira, Michael Jones, Anna Wallenbeck, Janice Swanson, Harry Blokhuis and Linda Keeling
Additional contact information
Gabriela Olmos Antillón: Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Håkan Tunón: SLU Swedish Biodiversity Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7016, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Daiana de Oliveira: Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7068, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Michael Jones: SLU Swedish Biodiversity Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7016, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Anna Wallenbeck: Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7068, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Janice Swanson: Department of Animal Science and Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Harry Blokhuis: Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7068, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Linda Keeling: Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7068, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: The mutually beneficial relationships between improving animal welfare (AW) and achieving the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) were further explored and compared to previous work. This was done in the context of a doctoral training course where students selected at least six SDGs and reasoned around their impact on AW and vice versa. Then, students rated the strength of the SDG—AW links. Lastly, students engaged in an assessment exercise. Students reported an overall mutually beneficial relationship between AW and all SDGs, yet with significant differences in strength for SDGs 4, 11, 10, 12 and 13 to that previously found by experts. Students considered SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production the most promising way to integrate AW targets. This study further supports the positive role of AW in the success of the UN’s strategy. Still, the magnitude of the anticipated impacts is modified by stakeholder, context and experience.

Keywords: sustainability; animal welfare; education for sustainable development (ESD); learning environment; critical thinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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