Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call to action for governments, organizations, and civil society to address the environmental and social problems of the 21st century in a comprehensive and decisive manner. We are reaching a point of no return with terrible systemic consequences. Therefore, responsible production and consumption is one of the keys to achieving the SDGs. This work highlights the impact of the consumption of animal products on the planet. The effects on biodiversity, deforestation, water resources, climate and health are decisive. However, the 2030 Agenda does not focus on ethics as one of the keys to addressing these critical problems. The different ethical approaches to the moral status of animals justify the transition to plant-based diets, not only because of the ecological consequences generated by animal product consumption but also because of principles of justice. The justified character of the moral consideration of non-human animals would lead us to a new symmetrical model of relationship between human and non-human animals that would “almost automatically” reduce a whole set of systemic impacts. The current pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation. However, under these premises, the modern technologies of the fourth industrial revolution that seek to improve animal health and welfare are ethically unacceptable.
Presenters
Joaquín Fernández MateoProfessor, Facultad de CC. Jurídicas y Sociales. Área de Filosofía., Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Economic, Social, and Cultural Context
KEYWORDS
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, ANIMAL ETHICS, ANIMAL WELFARE
