The UK government is to introduce new animal welfare and environmental laws.
They have laid out their plans for new animal welfare laws and new environmental laws in this year's Queen's Speech.
The New Animal Laws
The government is set to introduce a new law to protect animals called the 'Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill'.
They will also introduce the 'Kept Animals Bill' and the 'Animals, Abroad Bill'.
The Animal Welfare Sentience Bill will recognize the feelings and sentience of animals. The law will recognize that animals experience emotions. These emotions include emotions like happiness, joy, pain and suffering. The bill will recognize animals as sentient beings.
This is an amazing advancement in animal rights, as it will be the first time that animals will be recognized as sentient beings in UK law. Recognizing animals as sentient beings is important, as it will hopefully create a kinder and more compassionate world for animals.
The UK government is also set to ban most of the cruel trade, that trade is the live exports trade. Live exports is where farm animals are transported on long journeys - these journeys are cruel and outdated. Live export animals travel very long journeys - these journeys are where animals are crammed together, in warm and small conditions. Sadly, these animals often spend long periods without food or water. Therefore, it is great that the government is banning this cruel trade.
The government will also ban the imports of trophies from hunted animals. The aim of this is to help to stop the hunting of wildlife. Wildlife that often ends up as trophies includes pangolins, elephants and rhinos. Therefore, legislation like this can help save wildlife from being hunted and sold.
There will be bans on shark fins and ivory.
The ivory trade is resulting in elephants being killed for their tusks. Recently, several elephant species have also been declared endangered and critically endangered. The ivory trade is a major driving force in pushing elephants and rhinos towards extinction. Therefore, by introducing an ivory ban, we can help protect these beautiful animals and save them from extinction.
Microchipping for cats is also set to become the law, which would mean that it would be compulsory for pet owners with cats to get their cat microchipped. This is good, as cats can be found if they go missing or have been stolen if they have been microchipped - it is easier to find your lost pet if they have been microchipped.
There are also proposals to ban people from keeping primates as pets. This is also a good idea, as primates who are sold as pets are often stolen from the wild. Banning people from keeping primates as pets will help to keep them in the wild, rather than being stolen in the wild and sold off as pets.
There will also be crackdowns on illegal hare coursing, electric shock collars, pet theft and puppy smuggling.
Finally, there will also be new rules on cruel glue traps
All of these are great moves to help create a kinder and more compassionate country for animals within the UK and animals throughout the world. There is a lot proposed here from the UK government to help animals and wildlife. They also propose to introduce new laws to help the environment.
The New Environment Laws
A new Environment Bill is also in the works.
The Environment Bill is already almost passed in law, as it has gone through two readings so far in the House of Commons. There needs to be one more reading of the Environment Bill before it is passed in law.
The new Environment Bill will tackle a few environmental issues. These environmental issues include environmental protections, biodiversity and nature. There will be a focus by the government on protecting the environment.
Climate change is also a focus for the UK government. They state that they want to reach net-zero - reaching net-zero will help tackle climate change as it will reduce our carbon emissions. They aim to reach net-zero by 2050.
Conclusion
The focus on animals, the environment and nature from the UK government in the Queen's Speech is great news and will help to create a kinder world for animals and wildlife. It will also create a healthier environment.
Sources:
Comments