Workshop: Climate Change and Animal Ethics

While philosophical discussions on climate justice have grown substantially over the past decade, they have largely focused on duties owed to present and future human populations. By contrast, comparatively little attention has been given to the moral responsibilities humans bear toward animals in the context of climate change. Few recent studies have started to investigate the ethical implications of mitigation and adaptation policies, but many open questions remain. Moreover, a significant gap concerns duties owed to animals in situations of Loss and Damage (L&D) — particularly where mitigation and adaptation measures prove insufficient to prevent serious and irreversible harm.

As climate impacts intensify year after year, and as animal vulnerability becomes increasingly evident, especially in wild environments, it is crucial to clarify the ethical frameworks guiding our responsibilities toward non-human beings.

This two-day workshop at the University of Fribourg aims to bring together researchers from different institutions working on climate change and animal ethics. The meeting seeks to foster scholarly exchange on ongoing and future research projects; identify conceptual and practical challenges in the field; encourage networking and new collaborations; and explore potential synergies in research and teaching initiatives.

The workshop will provide a focused environment for in-depth discussion and collective reflection on emerging questions at the intersection of climate ethics and animal ethics.