Addressing the elephant in the room

This is probably one of the most comprehensive publications currently available on animal-related legal issues. It includes more than 100 entries on the topic.

From an environmental perspective, the book addresses the issue of animal agriculture, which is one of the most harmful activities in terms of emissions of methane, a gas 80 times more potent than the more familiar CO₂.

The encyclopedia also addresses in several entries the concept of animal ethics – the crucial relationship between humans and non-human animals. This is a subject that has long preoccupied philosophers and scholars. It raises the fundamental question that should lie at the heart of any discussion about animal law: are we sure that animals (non-human animals) exist in this world to serve human purposes?

Through the book’s many contributions, the reader comes to appreciate the growing importance of animal law and the expanding movement advocating for animal welfare and rights. It is highlighted that most animals are sentient beings (not only mammals and vertebrates but also fish) and that this understanding must reshape how we perceive and interact with them.

The book’s fil rouge is a clear advocacy for animal wellbeing and rights. Animals must be seen through a new lens, and their status requires global recognition and coordinated legislative responses.

Dr Carlo Corcione is a lawyer and manager specialising in trade, shipping and logistics