Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves: Why Animals Matter for Pandemics, Climate Change, and other Catastrophes

Humans have a moral responsibility to include animals in global health and environmental policy. We should reduce our use of animals as part of our pandemic and climate change mitigation efforts and increase our support for animals as part of our adaptation efforts. This book provides an urgent call to action and a survey of what ethical and effective action requires.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The year 2020 brought forth a series of global events that starkly highlighted the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman lives. The COVID-19 pandemic, devastating Australia bushfires, and other pressing threats served as poignant reminders that our actions, both intentional and unintentional, have profound consequences for the well-being of both humans and animals.

Human utilization of nonhuman animals has played a significant role in the emergence of pandemics, climate change, and other global challenges. These actions not only impact the health and survival of animals but also contribute to the loss of biodiversity, the collapse of ecosystems, and the suffering of nonhuman beings.

One prominent voice in this discussion is Jeff Sebo, who argues that humans have a moral responsibility to include animals in global health and environmental policy. Sebo advocates for a shift in our approach, urging us to reduce our reliance on animals in pandemic and climate change mitigation efforts and increase our support for animals as part of our adaptation efforts. He calls for the application and extension of frameworks such as One Health and the Green New Deal, which aim to address the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Sebo's vision includes reducing support for factory farming, deforestation, and the wildlife trade, while increasing support for humane, healthful, and sustainable alternatives. He also emphasizes the need to consider human and nonhuman needs holistically, recognizing the interdependence of our well-being and the well-being of other species.

In addition to practical considerations such as education, employment, social services, and infrastructure, Sebo delves into theoretical issues such as well-being, moral status, political status, and population ethics. He demonstrates that these issues are both complex and urgent, requiring a nuanced and comprehensive approach.

Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves is an invaluable resource for scholars, advocates, policy-makers, and anyone interested in shaping a world that values the welfare of all living beings. This book serves as both an urgent call to action and a comprehensive survey of what ethical and effective action requires. By recognizing the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman fates, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and sustainable future for ourselves and the planet we share.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 147 x 217 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190861018