Why and How to Include Animal Welfare in Local Policymaking

The Geography and the Environment Colloquium Series

with Jeff Sebo, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, New York University

This talk makes the case for including animal welfare in local policymaking, with special focus on institutional and infrastructural change. Jeff Sebo starts by discussing the importance and difficulty of improving animal welfare, arguing that cities have a responsibility to protect animals from human-caused problems where possible.

He then discusses general principles and policies that can guide cities in improving animal welfare. For example, cities can implement bird-friendly building materials, improve road design and operation, and provide guidance for incorporating animal shelters and habitat into green infrastructure.

These policies have the potential to benefit humans, animals, and the environment alike. By researching and adopting these and other, similar policies, cities and other local actors can work towards creating environments that support all species within their boundaries.

Jeff Sebo's research focuses on moral philosophy, legal philosophy, and philosophy of mind; animal minds, ethics, and policy; AI minds, ethics, and policy; global health and climate ethics and policy; and global priorities research. He is the author of “The Moral Circle and Saving Animals,” “Saving Ourselves” and co-author of “Chimpanzee Rights and Food, Animals, and the Environment.” He is also a board member at Minding Animals International, an advisory board member at the Insect Welfare Research Society, a senior affiliate at the Institute for Law & AI, and a mentor at Sentient Media.

Zoom link to join this talk.