Dog Ownership's Climate Impact: Why Adopting a Pet May Outweigh Recycling

Aug 24, 2025, 2:08 AM

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A recent study published by the National Academy of Sciences found that many Americans misjudge which personal decisions most affect climate change. Participants underestimated the environmental impact of actions like flying or eating meat, while overestimating the benefits of recycling or switching to energy-efficient light bulbs. This highlights a critical gap in public understanding of how individual choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which are primarily driven by burning fossil fuels like gasoline, oil, and coal.

Dogs, for instance, have a significant carbon footprint due to their meat-based diets. Livestock production accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with cattle being particularly impactful. Deforestation to create pastureland for beef farming further exacerbates the problem by removing trees that absorb carbon dioxide, creating a "double whammy" effect. Jiaying Zhao, a psychology and sustainability professor at the University of British Columbia, explained that people often overlook the link between pet ownership and emissions: "People just don't associate pets with carbon emissions. That link is not clear in people's minds.".

Zhao’s personal experience underscores this point. She owns a dog and three rabbits, noting that adopting 100 bunnies would still not match the emissions of a carnivorous dog. "I can adopt 100 bunnies that will not be close to the emissions of a dog, because my dog is a carnivore," she said. This comparison illustrates how meat-eating pets contribute disproportionately to climate change compared to herbivorous alternatives.

Air travel also ranks among the most carbon-intensive activities. A round-trip economy-class flight on a 737 from New York to Los Angeles produces over 1,300 pounds of emissions per passenger, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization. Skipping such a flight saves as much carbon as eliminating all meat consumption for a year or avoiding car use for three months. This underscores the outsized impact of aviation on individual carbon footprints.

Switching to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power offers substantial benefits, as these systems do not emit greenhouse gases during operation. However, other actions like recycling have limited climate impact due to reliance on fossil fuels in processing recyclables and low overall recycling rates (less than 10% of plastics are recycled)[@2]. Similarly, switching to energy-efficient appliances or washing clothes in cold water has a relatively minor effect compared to reducing meat consumption or avoiding air travel.

Experts emphasize that improving public awareness is key to addressing these misconceptions. "People do learn from these interventions," said Madalina Vlasceanu, co-author of the study. "After learning, they are more willing to commit to actually more impactful actions." The research also showed participants adjusted their priorities after receiving corrected information, suggesting that education can help align personal choices with climate goals.

While reducing consumption and adopting plant-based diets remain critical strategies, the study highlights how systemic changes in food production and transportation infrastructure could yield greater environmental benefits. As Zhao noted, shifting toward sustainable practices—whether through pet care, travel habits, or energy use—requires rethinking long-standing assumptions about everyday decisions.

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