The recent Los Angeles wildfires were the most destructive in the region's history. More than two dozen people have died and tens of thousands have fled their homes. The damage goes beyond our species: step A censusAbout half of evacuees from a disaster or emergency leave at least one pet behind. Wild animals die or flee during natural disasters, often with nowhere to go.
Fortunately, people are stepping up to help. Organizations work tirelessly to rescue animals, and when local shelters reach capacity, some organizations take animals to nearby states; For example, charities Best Friends Animal Society and Rescue Wings relocated 80 cats and dogs From La County to Utah.
Wildfires and these responses remind us that human and animal fates are linked because of the consequences of human activity. We may think we should leave animals alone, but that ship has sailed – LA, for example, is home to countless animals and interacts with them directly, through animal control, and indirectly through environmental management.
The effects that infrastructure can have on animals are particularly important and often overlooked. After all, our built environment forms where animals live and how they behave, both in normal times and in emergencies, including wildfires. We must ask: As we work to make our infrastructure more resilient and sustainable in the face of climate change, how can we also make it safer for animals?
I spent a year working with a group of experts to explore how cities and other local actors can simultaneously improve infrastructure for people, animals and the environment. The project culminated in an elaborate culmination Statement of Policy Led by legal scholar Alyssa White, it describes several low-cost, co-beneficial solutions that cities should consider and can quickly achieve. Here are some examples:
- Build with bird-friendly materials. Hundreds of millions Birds die every year In creating conflicts, because it is difficult for birds to see. As cities update building codes for energy efficiency, they can also aim to reduce conflicts. For example, new construction and major renovations may be required to use bird-proof glass, which uses insects and patterns that are more visible to birds and less visible to humans. Many cities already require bird-friendly design for some properties At least 10 in California. Others should follow suit.
- Improve road design. Busy, often overcrowded roads increase collisions between vehicles and animals, fragment wildlife habitats and disrupt migration patterns. As cities revamp their transportation systems for energy efficiency, they might consider building overpasses or underpasses to reduce collisions and explore pedestrian-only corridors to mitigate air and noise pollution while encouraging walking and cycling. California last year announced The world's largest wildlife crossing, offering a safer passage than the 101 in LA County, is set to open in 2026 with philanthropic support. It could be a model for growth everywhere.
- Develop green infrastructure. Green roofs, rain gardens and bioswales (collect, direct and filter stormwater runoff) can capture water and provide relief from the heat-island effect that increases temperatures in concrete-heavy areas. Adding plants to this infrastructure can also make a difference. Los Angeles is a “Seaweed CityFor its approach to water harvesting. Moving forward, LA and other cities could select plants for wildlife food and habitat as part of development.
- Improve lawn maintenance. Turf and monoculture lawns provide limited habitat for animals, and gas-powered lawn equipment increases air and noise pollution. Transitioning to natural grasslands will create habitat corridors for birds, insects and other animals, while reducing the use of disturbance tools. These grasslands are changing Increasingly popular in CaliforniaAnd there is Govt Banned the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment. These and similar changes benefit animals and humans alike.
- More fundamentally, cities could establish an animal welfare office, as New York did in 2019. There is also a city Progress has been made In recent years on infrastructure (such as bird-friendly building policies), wildlife management (for example, non-lethal deer and geese management policies) and various other issues. Such progress illustrates that co-ordinated solutions for humans, animals and the environment are easier to find when policymakers develop an official mechanism for considering animal welfare.
Of course, these plans are just starting points. Each city has its own social, political, economic and environmental context and policies must be adapted accordingly; For LA, attention is focused on both its fires and floods to mitigate the associated risksHydroclimate whiplash. ” There is much more to learn about how to protect both humans and animals at the same time. Even if we somehow make the right decisions, many animals still suffer and die from our extreme impacts on the environment.
Yet, we must avoid allowing the right to be the enemy of the good. We must adapt to climate change now, and as we do, we must consider animals. As we know from wildfires, every life saved is a victory, but individual rescue is not enough. By creating animal-friendly infrastructure, we can embed compassion for animals into the basic structures of our shared society.
Jeff Sebo is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Director of the Center for Environment and Animal Conservation, and Director of the Center for Mind, Ethics, and Policy at NYU. His latest books are “Save the Animals, Save Us” and the forthcoming “The Moral Circle”.