Several studies claim that pets are major contributors to climate change. They suggest that dogs and cats consume a significant share of animal-derived calories and therefore carry a substantial carbon pawprint. But what assumptions underlie those claims? Are those assumptions accurate? What biases are present? What’s the truth here? Most estimates are based on modeling,… Continue reading Are Pets Really a Climate Problem?
Tag: pets
The Environmental Cost of Pets
Pets can be environmentally expensive. U.S. dogs and cats consume roughly a third of America’s animal-derived energy. Some analyses have blamed pet food for as much as 25–30% of the environmental impacts from animal production, including land use, water use, fossil fuels, fertilizers, and agricultural chemicals. That sounds alarming—but most estimates are based on theoretical… Continue reading The Environmental Cost of Pets
Pet Sustainability Project 