India Launches Major Animal Welfare Network to Address Climate and Health Crises
Animal welfare in India has received a significant strategic boost this week with the formal launch of the India Karuna Collaborative (IKC), a powerful new network comprising more than 50 organizations and 70 prominent leaders from civil society, science, business, and public health sectors. The initiative aims to bring animal welfare—with a particular focus on industrial animal farming—to the very center of critical national conversations on climate change, public health, and sustainable development.
High-Profile Launch at Indian Merchants' Chamber
The collaborative was officially launched at the Indian Merchants' Chamber on Wednesday, drawing a distinguished gathering of influential figures from diverse fields. Among the notable attendees were Harsh Mariwala, founder and chairman of Marico; renowned fashion designer Anita Dongre; Motilal Oswal, founder and managing director of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited; Amala Akkineni, founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad; and Gauri Maulekhi, trustee of People for Animals. This high-level participation underscores the growing recognition of animal welfare as a cross-cutting issue.
Moving Beyond Ethics to Intersectional Risks
Traditionally, animal welfare has been framed within the narrow confines of ethics and compassion (karuna), often overlooking the far-reaching consequences of exploitative animal farming practices for public health, the environment, and economic development. The IKC seeks to fundamentally shift this narrative by foregrounding these intersectional risks. A key report released by the collaborative, titled The Interconnected Crisis: Animal Welfare, Human Health, and Climate Change in India, provides stark data to support this broader perspective.
The report notes that more than 1.5 billion farmed animals are deeply embedded in India’s daily economic and food systems. Their living conditions—often cramped and unsanitary—frequently remain unregulated and invisible to the public, making it difficult to connect these practices, from breeding and transport to slaughter, with their downstream societal impacts.
Quantifying the Environmental and Health Toll
The environmental footprint is substantial. Indian farmed animals contribute approximately 214.5 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year and account for a staggering 54.84% of the country’s agricultural methane output. On the public health front, the report highlights that about 70% of global antibiotics are used in animal agriculture, a practice that fuels the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This global health threat is projected to claim up to 10 million lives annually by 2050 if left unchecked.
During a panel discussion, Gauri Maulekhi of People for Animals elaborated on this crisis. “From antibiotic-laden feed for farmed animals to practices such as sewage-fed fish farming seen in parts of India, antibiotics are increasingly used to sustain industrial food production,” she stated. “While this system keeps costs low, the long-term price is far higher, accelerating antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of deadly superbugs.” She emphasized that this critical issue remains severely underexamined in policy circles.
Call for Systemic Change from Business Leaders
Business leader Harsh Mariwala issued a strong call to action for the corporate sector. He urged businesses to build operational systems and supply chains that proactively integrate animal care into the core processes of production, consumption, regulation, and innovation. “We need systems change; the private sector can help normalise alternatives,” he asserted, highlighting the role of industry in driving sustainable practices.
Consumer Willingness for Change
Also unveiled at the launch event were the results of a comprehensive YouGov survey of 3,000 Gen Z respondents, exploring attitudes toward animal welfare. The findings are promising for advocates of change:
- 69% of young dairy consumers and more than half of meat and egg consumers expressed willingness to pay at least 10% more for products meeting higher animal welfare standards.
- 53% of respondents said they were open to replacing some or all animal protein with plant-based alternatives.
This data suggests a significant willingness among India's youth to act in support of animal welfare through their purchasing and dietary choices.
Future Advocacy and Positioning
Drawing on emerging scientific research and field evidence, the India Karuna Collaborative plans to advocate vigorously for transformative change across multiple domains: business practices, public policy, regulatory frameworks, and consumer behavior. Its core mission is to successfully position animal welfare not as a peripheral concern, but as a fundamental cornerstone of India's national dialogue on climate resilience, public health security, and equitable development.
