FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is One Welfare?
One Welfare describes the interconnection between animal welfare, human wellbeing and their physical and social environment as important elements to consider in the elaboration and implementation of policies and activities related to each of these aspects. A One Welfare approach promotes the direct and indirect links of animal welfare to human welfare and environmentally friendly animal-keeping systems.
One Welfare “fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to improve human and animal welfare internationally. One Welfare could help to promote key global objectives such as supporting food security, sustainability, reducing human suffering and improving profitability within the farming sector through a better understanding of the value of high welfare standards.”
You can watch a short vide about What is One Welfare here.
One Welfare “fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to improve human and animal welfare internationally. One Welfare could help to promote key global objectives such as supporting food security, sustainability, reducing human suffering and improving profitability within the farming sector through a better understanding of the value of high welfare standards.”
You can watch a short vide about What is One Welfare here.
2. What is the One Welfare framework?
The One Welfare Framework encompasses five distinct sections that aim to bring together professionals of different disciplines for the benefit of animal welfare, human wellbeing, the environment, and overall, our society and the world we live in. You can read further about the One Welfare Framework here.
3. What are the five sections under the One Welfare framework?
The five sections of the One Welfare Framework are:
1.The connections between animal and human abuse and neglect
2. The social implications of improved animal welfare
3. Animal health and welfare, human wellbeing, food security and sustainability
4. Assisted interventions involving animals, humans and the environment
5. Sustainability: Connections between biodiversity, the environment, animal welfare and human wellbeing.
You may find out more details about the five sections in the One Welfare Framework book here.
1.The connections between animal and human abuse and neglect
2. The social implications of improved animal welfare
3. Animal health and welfare, human wellbeing, food security and sustainability
4. Assisted interventions involving animals, humans and the environment
5. Sustainability: Connections between biodiversity, the environment, animal welfare and human wellbeing.
You may find out more details about the five sections in the One Welfare Framework book here.
4. What are the ongoing projects under the One Welfare framework?
One Welfare Silkworm
This is a project designed to support the sustainable development goals and global trade by supporting the creation of a unique accreditation scheme. One Welfare Silkworm aims to bring together assurance bodies certifying high standards in the areas of animal welfare, labour and environmental protection.
You may find out more here.
One Welfare Phoenix
This project aims to support the sustainable development goals and global reduction of violence by supporting the production and dissemination of practical guides to professionals to help identify and report the link between animal and human abuse and neglect, including the relation to their environment.
This project is designed to bring together collective expertise across the world to develop global free access guidance for veterinary, medical and social services professionals as well as the public on section 1 of the One Welfare Framework, the link between animal and human abuse and neglect, providing a flexible space for local contacts, to be built into the guidance by local groups.
You may find out more here.
This is a project designed to support the sustainable development goals and global trade by supporting the creation of a unique accreditation scheme. One Welfare Silkworm aims to bring together assurance bodies certifying high standards in the areas of animal welfare, labour and environmental protection.
You may find out more here.
One Welfare Phoenix
This project aims to support the sustainable development goals and global reduction of violence by supporting the production and dissemination of practical guides to professionals to help identify and report the link between animal and human abuse and neglect, including the relation to their environment.
This project is designed to bring together collective expertise across the world to develop global free access guidance for veterinary, medical and social services professionals as well as the public on section 1 of the One Welfare Framework, the link between animal and human abuse and neglect, providing a flexible space for local contacts, to be built into the guidance by local groups.
You may find out more here.
5. Where may I purchase One Welfare merchandise?
Currently we have a range of products such as tote bags, t-shirts, scarfs, clocks, mugs, plus others. You may see our merchandise for sale here.
6. What ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE ONE WELFARE CONCEPT?
The term "One Welfare" serves to highlight the interconnections between animal welfare, human wellbeing and their physical and social environment.
It fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to improve human and animal welfare internationally. One Welfare also helps to promote key global objectives such as supporting food security, sustainability, reducing human suffering and improving productivity within the farming sector through a better understanding of the value of high welfare standards.
One Welfare extends the approach of (and partially overlaps) the One Health theme used for human and animal health. A One Welfare approach promotes the direct and indirect links of animal welfare to human welfare and environmentally friendly animal-keeping systems. One Welfare as a complement to One Health helps encompass a fully comprehensive / holistic approach that covers both health and welfare.
You can watch a short vide about What is One Welfare here.
It fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to improve human and animal welfare internationally. One Welfare also helps to promote key global objectives such as supporting food security, sustainability, reducing human suffering and improving productivity within the farming sector through a better understanding of the value of high welfare standards.
One Welfare extends the approach of (and partially overlaps) the One Health theme used for human and animal health. A One Welfare approach promotes the direct and indirect links of animal welfare to human welfare and environmentally friendly animal-keeping systems. One Welfare as a complement to One Health helps encompass a fully comprehensive / holistic approach that covers both health and welfare.
You can watch a short vide about What is One Welfare here.
7. How is One welfare different to one health?
While One Health focuses on human, animal and environmental health and the clinical aspects of it, One Welfare adds the dimension of wellbeing and welfare and thus takes into account broader considerations, leading to a holistic approach enabling better cross-sector collaboration, research and solution-finding to ensure sustainable progress for human wellbeing, animal welfare and environmental health.
A holistic approach is characterized by the belief that all parts of a system are interconnected and can be considered only as parts of a whole. Holistic needs to be recognised as a relevant criteria for policy change, that is also based on scientific proof.
A holistic approach is characterized by the belief that all parts of a system are interconnected and can be considered only as parts of a whole. Holistic needs to be recognised as a relevant criteria for policy change, that is also based on scientific proof.
8.How is One Welfare complimentary to One Health?
One Welfare is meant to complement One Health, not replace it. “Whilst health is a key priority, looking after our wellbeing and that of animals, society and the environment is paramount.”
One Welfare partially overlaps One Health and further extends it to encompass the direct and indirect links between animal welfare, human wellbeing and environmentally sound practices, including high welfare and environmentally friendly animal keeping systems.
In addition to the clinical aspects, covered by One Health, One Welfare offers a framework to make best use of the direct and indirect benefits of animal welfare improvements to human wellbeing and the environment. For instance, where One Health has been translated into EU policy by fighting Antimicrobial resistance, One Welfare encompasses solutions to reduce Antimicrobial resistance in a holistic approach.
“One Welfare extends the approach of (and partially overlaps) the One Health theme used for human and animal health. A One Welfare approach promotes the direct and indirect links of animal welfare to human welfare and environmentally friendly animal-keeping systems.”
One Welfare partially overlaps One Health and further extends it to encompass the direct and indirect links between animal welfare, human wellbeing and environmentally sound practices, including high welfare and environmentally friendly animal keeping systems.
In addition to the clinical aspects, covered by One Health, One Welfare offers a framework to make best use of the direct and indirect benefits of animal welfare improvements to human wellbeing and the environment. For instance, where One Health has been translated into EU policy by fighting Antimicrobial resistance, One Welfare encompasses solutions to reduce Antimicrobial resistance in a holistic approach.
“One Welfare extends the approach of (and partially overlaps) the One Health theme used for human and animal health. A One Welfare approach promotes the direct and indirect links of animal welfare to human welfare and environmentally friendly animal-keeping systems.”
9. In which contexts should One Welfare be taken into account? E.g. legislation, impact assessments, state budgets.
One Welfare can, and should, be taken into account in any assessment or decision-making process related to environmental issues, human health and wellbeing, or animal health and welfare, be it legislation, financial decisions, international policy-making, impact assessments, research, as well as other sectors
10. If we are an advocacy organization, how can we speak effectively in the spirit of One Welfare?
Speaking in the spirit of One Welfare means having a holistic approach to research and solution finding, which recognizes the interconnectedness between human wellbeing, animal welfare and the environment and treats these three components not in isolation but as integrated parts of any proposed policy solution. Bearing this in mind, it becomes imperative to frame problems, narratives, and solutions that bring no harm to either one of the three components, as progress in one of the areas can only be sustainable if it benefits the other two areas of the One Welfare approach as well.
11. What is the difference between environmental health and environmental wellbeing or welfare? IS it beyond health in terms of not just operating within planetary boundaries but helping the environment flourish as its fullest?
Environmental health is defined as the science and practice of preventing human injury and illness and promoting well-being by: identifying and evaluating environmental sources and hazardous agents and limiting exposures to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in air, water, soil, food, and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health. [1]
Environmental wellbeing means leading a lifestyle that values the relationship between ourselves, our community, and the environment. Individual wellbeing is affected by the environments we live in and we as individuals also have a significant impact on these environments. Cultivating environmental wellbeing requires us to recognize our responsibility to protect the earth and promote lifestyle practices that serve to sustain the natural environment and its resources. [2]
In terms of these definitions in the context of One Welfare, we are not only looking at environmental health in terms of identifying hazards and risk reduction. One Welfare considers the holistic relationship between, how we view and interact with the environment, with how the environment has a impact on our health and mental wellbeing, along with our collective responsibility to the environment, and separately animal welfare.
[1] https://www.neha.org/about-neha/definitions-environmental-health
[2] https://wellness.huhs.harvard.edu/environmental
Environmental wellbeing means leading a lifestyle that values the relationship between ourselves, our community, and the environment. Individual wellbeing is affected by the environments we live in and we as individuals also have a significant impact on these environments. Cultivating environmental wellbeing requires us to recognize our responsibility to protect the earth and promote lifestyle practices that serve to sustain the natural environment and its resources. [2]
In terms of these definitions in the context of One Welfare, we are not only looking at environmental health in terms of identifying hazards and risk reduction. One Welfare considers the holistic relationship between, how we view and interact with the environment, with how the environment has a impact on our health and mental wellbeing, along with our collective responsibility to the environment, and separately animal welfare.
[1] https://www.neha.org/about-neha/definitions-environmental-health
[2] https://wellness.huhs.harvard.edu/environmental
12. Would we be able to consider the precautionary principle in the One Welfare approach for human development, animal welfare and environmental health in relation to global pandemics, climate crisis and disaster resilience?
Yes, considering the precautionary principle in the One Welfare approach can even be crucial, as delaying action until there is compelling evidence of the harm can be very costly for human wellbeing, animal welfare and our environment. If anything, One Welfare should help better understand the importance and implementation of the precautionary principle in environmental matters, human health and development, and animal welfare.