Our Research & Advocacy Areas
Using research to strengthen law, policy and advocacy for animals
ICARE conducts legal and interdisciplinary research on underexplored, emerging and pressing questions affecting animals, and works to translate relevant findings into legal, policy and advocacy interventions.
We examine how laws, institutions and political systems affect animals and how they can better recognise and protect animals and their fundamental interests. Our work combines legal and comparative research, policy analysis and interdisciplinary perspectives, drawing on expertise across jurisdictions and fields.
Where research identifies opportunities for change, we seek to make that knowledge usable — through publications and legal analyses, policy recommendations and submissions, engagement with decision-makers and civil society, and public advocacy.
Not every research project leads to an advocacy intervention. But our advocacy is grounded in research, legal analysis and a careful assessment of the context in which change is being pursued.
Our Current Research & Advocacy Priorities
Political Representation of Animals
Animals are profoundly affected by political decisions, yet their interests remain systematically underrepresented in the institutions and processes through which those decisions are made.
ICARE researches how animals' interests can be better represented within political and democratic decision-making. We examine legal and institutional mechanisms capable of bringing animal interests into public decisions, as well as the conditions under which those mechanisms can contribute to meaningful change.
Our current work includes comparative research on direct democracy mechanisms and their use in advancing animal protection, alongside broader questions concerning political representation, democratic participation and institutional reform.
By examining experience across jurisdictions, we aim to identify not only which mechanisms exist, but how, when and under what conditions they can be used effectively for animals.
Animals in Disasters & Climate Emergencies
Animals are affected by wildfires, floods, heatwaves and other disasters at enormous scale, yet disaster laws, emergency planning and official responses do not always account for them systematically.
ICARE researches how animals are recognised and protected within disaster law and governance, including disaster risk reduction, preparedness, prevention, evacuation, emergency response, rescue, recovery and longer-term institutional responsibility.
Our comparative legal research examines how different jurisdictions incorporate animals into disaster frameworks and where significant gaps remain. We consider the protection of animals across different circumstances and categories — including companion, farmed, captive, and wild animals — and the roles of public authorities, veterinary professionals, civil society and animal rescue organisations.
We also examine the relationship between animal protection and the climate crisis: both how climate-related emergencies affect animals and how legal and policy responses can address the systems that increase animals' vulnerability and contribute to climate change.
This research informs our advocacy for disaster frameworks that recognise animal victims, plan for their protection before emergencies occur, provide effective mechanisms for rescue and recovery, and adequately support the organisations and professionals involved in helping them.