The Rethinking Animals Summit brought together a diverse group of experts from around the world to discuss global biodiversity loss through the lens of the human and environmental impact of our treatment of other species. The Summit looked at the consequences to human health, global security, world financial systems, environmental sustainability, and individual well-being. In addition, the Summit spotlighted people and organizations trying to mitigate this impact.

The nature of our relationship with other species has enormous and quantifiable impacts on our health, on the environment, global security, our economies, and the viability of the world that our children will inherit. Furthermore, the nature of our relationships to other species and their environments have qualitative moral, ethical and psychological implications for us as a civil society and as individuals. We cannot afford to ignore the need to change our perceptions of the importance of other species in our lives, nor the need to reconsider the nature of our dominion over theirs.

The care, protection, and conservation of animals world-wide touches all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and if the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to be successful, it is imperative that other species be considered in its implementation.