G20 leaders must stop the wildlife trade to prevent the next coronavirus
COVID-19 is one of the worst pandemics of animal origin that we have faced in a century. And whilst the reality is that it may not be the last pandemic, we need to focus on tackling the root causes.
One way we could reduce that risk is by urgently banning all commercial trade of wild animals globally — a topic that should be taken seriously by leaders at the G20 this year.
It’s well known that the virus very likely originated in bats in China and was transmitted from these wild animals to people via pangolins. But, understanding what has caused this global outbreak is crucial if we are to prevent it from happening again. And, we need to make sure that regardless of which wild animal is at the source, the threat that the wildlife trade poses to global human health is taken much more seriously.
The most troubling thing about this situation is that at least seventy percent of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases are thought to originate from wild animals. Risk is exacerbated because of the terrible suffering and poor conditions wild animals face. Every day, thousands of wild animals are poached or farmed and sold into the global multi-billion-dollar wildlife trade — for food, for pets, for traditional medicine and for entertainment — creating a lethal hotbed of disease and causing enormous suffering and cruelty.
So, what does this have to do with the G20? As a political body made up of the world’s 20 largest economies, the G20 is uniquely placed to take coordinated global action, including to reduce the risk of future pandemics.
With Saudi Arabia chairing the G20 this year and Italy next year there is both a need and an opportunity for global leadership to tackle the root causes of this current pandemic. This is not even close to the first time that serious zoonotic diseases have been transferred to humans. We have seen for example: SARS, rabies, Ebola, bovine tuberculosis, and swine ‘flu’. But it is the first time in decades such catastrophic outcomes for animals, people’s health and the economy have been triggered on such a large scale.
Historically, the G20 has focused on achieving global financial stability, especially during the global financial crisis of 2008. However, with the recent adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement, the remit of the G20 has widened to include other global issues. But, to be clear — the cost of COVID-19 is an enormous financial burden on the economy. The International Monetary Fund put the current cost of COVID-19 at a staggering $9 trillion USD with much of the world heading towards recession.
COVID-19 shows the stark economic cost of zoonotic disease outbreaks. Globally the legal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth $188 billion annually (100 billion in the EU alone)[1][2], and the illegal wildlife trade, whilst also difficult to predict, is valued at between $7–23 billion USD annually[3][4], making it one of the world’s largest illicit businesses[5].
With the deaths of over 600 thousand people across the world, the cost of preventing another pandemic is equal to just 2% of the damage that Covid-19 caused to the economy[6].
Now is the time for the G20 to step up to signal the end to international commercial trade in wild animals.
Such a message would send a signal to governments, the private sector and other multilateral institutions around the world, on the need for action against future pandemics. Global institutions and bodies, such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) or World Health Organisation (WHO), need to put in place mechanisms to implement a ban. Other issues that will need to be addressed include increased resourcing to combat any spikes in illegal trade, alternative livelihoods for vulnerable communities who may be affected by a wildlife trade ban and reducing consumer demand as a driver of the trade.
Domestically, China has taken the commendable and courageous decision to impose a nationwide ban on the trade of wild animals for consumption as food. They have also taken pangolin scales off the list of ingredients for Traditional Medicines, although pangolin parts can still be used in patented medicine where they are one of several animals used. Vietnam also recently announced banning the import of wildlife and closing markets and locations where illegal trade of wildlife is on sale. These steps by these countries are welcome, but more needs to be done, and other countries need to act too.
If the G20 don’t act, they will be remembered as the worlds powerful leaders who failed people and animals, squandering an opportunity to show leadership and act boldly and decisively. Let’s hope this G20 are on the right side of history, stepping up to address the root cause of COVID-19.
Join World Animal Protection and sign the petition to call on the G20 to end the global wildlife trade, forever.
[1] https://www.traffic.org/about-us/legal-wildlife-trade/
[2] Wyler L, Sheikh P (2008) International illegal trade in wildlife: threats and U.S. policy. CRS Report for Congress, March 3, 2008, 49 pp
[3] Nellemann, C. et al. 2016. The Rise of Environmental Crime — A Growing Threat To Natural Resources Peace, Development And Security. A UNEPINTERPOL Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme and RHIPTO Rapid Response–Norwegian Center for Global Analyses, www.rhipto.orgUNEP-INTERPOL Rapid Response Assessment, 2016
[4] Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973) [Text of the Convention]. http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtml. Accessed 2 June 2009
[5] Wyler L, Sheikh P (2008) International illegal trade in wildlife: threats and U.S. policy. CRS Report for Congress, March 3, 2008, 49 pp
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/preventing-next-pandemic-fraction-cost-covid-19-economic-fallout
