Protecting the Planet Starts With Protecting Animals: Why World Environment Day Matters More Than Ever
Blog
Every year on June 5, the world comes together to celebrate World Environment Day—a day to spotlight the urgent need to protect our planet and restore our ecosystems. But what’s often missing from the conversation is this: we can’t talk about environmental protection without talking about animals.
From the oceans to the forests, animals play a vital role in keeping ecosystems in balance. Yet our treatment of them—especially in industrial farming, the wildlife trade, and entertainment industries—continues to threaten not only their lives but the health of the entire planet.
At World Animal Protection, we believe building a sustainable future starts with rethinking our relationship with animals.
Factory Farming Is Fueling the Climate Crisis
The environmental cost of industrial animal agriculture is staggering.
- It's responsible for an estimated 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions—more than all the world’s cars, planes, and trains combined.
- It’s a leading driver of deforestation, especially in places like the Amazon and other biodiversity hotspots in Brazil, where land is cleared to grow crops that feed animals in cramped, cruel conditions.
- And it pollutes our air, soil, and water—especially in marginalized communities who bear the brunt of factory farm waste and emissions.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
By shifting toward plant-based foods, we can dramatically reduce emissions, protect biodiversity, and free animals from suffering. It’s a win for the planet and for animals.
Wild Animals Deserve to be Free
Whether it's dolphins trapped in tanks or elephants used for tourist selfies, wild animals are often denied their natural homes for profit. These exploitative industries not only cause immense suffering—they also disrupt delicate ecosystems.
When wild animals are removed from their habitats, it impacts everything—from pollination to seed dispersal to predator-prey relationships. Every species plays a role, and when we take one out of the equation, it has ripple effects we’re only beginning to understand.
Keeping wild animals where they belong—in the wild in habitats that are protected—isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s essential for environmental protection.
A Better World Is Possible—and It Starts With Us
World Environment Day isn’t just about planting trees or recycling—it’s about reimagining a future where animals, people, and the planet can thrive together.
That means:
- Choosing plant-based meals more often
- Refusing to support animal entertainment
- Speaking up for stronger laws that protect animals and ecosystems
- Supporting organizations, like World Animal Protection, that are working for systemic change
We can’t solve the climate crisis or reverse biodiversity loss without protecting the animals who share this planet with us. To help us protect animals and the planet this World Environment Day, join our Animal Champions online community—where you’ll find actions to take, tips to make legislative change, and more!