For the first time, prominent experts from around the world have come together to affirm the fundamental role that wild animals play in climate change mitigation and ecosystem resilience. A total of 287 scientists from six continents supported the Scientific Consensus on Wildlife and Climate, collectively urging governments to formally incorporate wildlife and its ecological role into climate policies.
The consensus was officially presented at a press conference during the sessions of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). This milestone comes after the push from African leaders, who at the last COP30 began promoting a Declaration on Wildlife for Climate.
Wild animals as climate allies
By living in their natural environment, animals act as true ecological engineers. Their daily behaviors directly help with the natural storage and capture of carbon:
-
Marine species: Fish in the open sea transport carbon to the depths of the ocean.
-
Large herbivores: Bison promote plant growth through grazing and nutrient recycling.
-
Terrestrial fauna: Forest elephants disperse seeds of trees with high carbon storage capacity.
A key article published in the journal Nature estimated that the recovery of wild animal populations could increase CO₂ absorption by 6.41 additional gigatons per year. This volume would help close the gap needed to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
The 3 pillars of the Scientific Consensus
Through a structured and transparent drafting process, the collective of academics agreed on three essential points:
-
The natural behavior of animals (grazing, predation, movement, and excretion) positively influences climate-related ecological processes.
-
These processes are vital for the regeneration and stability of ecosystems, but are currently ignored in climate planning.
-
Evaluating nature-based solutions without considering wildlife is scientifically incomplete.
Statements from experts
Ed Goodall (World Federation for Animals):
“There is broad consensus on the need to better recognize in biodiversity policies the processes mediated by animals, from seed dispersal to ecosystem modification. This document provides policymakers with a solid and credible basis to achieve this.”
Matt Collis (International Fund for Animal Welfare – IFAW):
“Wild animals are some of our greatest allies in protecting the planet from climate catastrophe, but their role has been overlooked for too long. Climate policy can no longer ignore wildlife.”
Jens-Christian Svenning (Aarhus University, Denmark):
“Animals influence the carbon cycle, fire regimes, and climate change adaptation. The scientific evidence has increased considerably, and recognizing it in policies is a fundamental step.”
To complement this launch, the official website of the Wildlife and Climate Consensus was launched, a platform designed to bring this scientific evidence closer to decision-makers worldwide.
