“The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness”

The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness gathers leading scientists to affirm the growing evidence for animal consciousness and encourage rigorous research in the field. Its goals are to promote scientific progress on consciousness, inspire broader engagement, and urge policymakers to consider animal welfare even without full certainty. The declaration emphasizes that a realistic possibility of consciousness, such as in octopuses or bees, warrants serious ethical and policy consideration. While it makes no specific policy recommendations, it calls for proactive steps to reduce welfare risks for vertebrates and many invertebrates as research continues to evolve.