Today (12th November), we joined forces with NGOs across the world to launch a major new celebrity-backed global movement dedicated to ending factory farming at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

The ‘End of the Line for Factory Farming’ campaign is supported by multiple NGOs, individuals and celebrities – such as TV’s Succession actor Brian Cox, X-Men 2 star Alan Cumming, actor and comedian Steve Coogan, and UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE. It sees the launch of a multi-language petition platform to catalyse global public support calling on world leaders to end factory farming through a global agreement.

The British public have spoken

To mark the launch, we released new research showing that 69% of British adults believe factory farming puts profits ahead of taking care of the climate and our environment.

The YouGov research – conducted in 13 countries – also shows that British adults believe factory farming puts profits ahead of animal welfare (81%) and the health of people who eat animal products (66%).

Celebrity support

World-renowned actor, Brian Cox, who has signed the End of the Line petition, says: “Tackling climate change is one of the most important undertakings of our time – but to turn the tide on this crisis, we need to address its root causes – and animal factory farming is one of them. Far beyond the suffering it inflicts on animals, intensive farming is threatening the very future of our planet.”

Dragons’ Den investor and Compassion Patron, Deborah Meaden, who is also supporting the campaign, adds: “We cannot stand by idly while our broken food system threatens the well-being of people, animals and our planet. Intensive animal agriculture is a major driver of antibiotic resistance in people, and causes pollution, deforestation, and wildlife loss. Let’s tell world leaders, enough is enough.”

Bicycle billboards

Earlier today, eye-catching bicycle billboards were launched at popular landmarks in New York, London and Paris to raise public awareness of the impact of factory farming on climate. The poll revealed that only one in two British adults (55%) are aware that the livestock sector produces more greenhouse gas emissions than the emissions* of all the world’s planes, trains and cars put together.

Why now?

This week the world’s eyes have been on Egypt as leading thinkers and policy makers join global leaders to find solutions to the climate crisis and commit to ways to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. But we can’t tackle the growing climate emergency without ending factory farming.

Dr Nick Palmer, Head of our UK office, remarks: “Today, we’re calling time on factory farming. Not only is it the single biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet and a major driver of wildlife declines but without ending it we simply cannot tackle the growing climate emergency.

“Our research shows that British people aren’t convinced by industry propaganda that factory farming is ‘necessary’ to feed the world. Their priority is making money – and at the expense of our climate, our health and animal welfare. Big meat companies prop up a highly profitable system without accounting for the climate, health and animal welfare impacts they cause. The results also show that many people simply aren’t aware of the livestock sector’s emissions impact on climate compared to transport.

“The End of the Line campaign will harness worldwide support to get leaders to end this cruel and destructive practice and to transform our food system so that it benefits animals, people and the planet. This must include managing the unsustainable consumption of meat, poultry, fish and dairy, especially in high consuming populations.

“We’re urging individuals, forward-thinking businesses, NGOs and others who care about animals, our planet, and our health, to join this global movement today. It’s either the End of the Line for Factory Farming, or for us.”

Take action

Be one of the first to sign our petition and tell world leaders its time to transform our global food system and end factory farming – for the sake of animals, people and the planet.

*This statement relates to data for direct emissions from the livestock sector (4.5 Billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent) and from planes, trains and cars put together (4.1 Billion tonnes of CO2) for 2015.