This story is basically Appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
I have been a vegetarian for over a decade. It’s not because of my health, or because I dislike the taste of chicken or beef: it’s a lifestyle choice I made because I wanted to reduce my impact on the planet. And yet, every day, twice a day, I lovingly scoop out a cup of meat-based kibble into a bowl and set it aside for my 50-pound rescue dog, a husky mix named Loki.
Until recently, I hadn’t given that paradox much thought. Then I read an article in the Associated Press titled, “People often misjudge climate options, a study says. One surprising thing is owning a dog.”
The study, led by environmental psychology researcher Danielle Goldwart and published in the journal PNAS Nexus, examined how people perceive the climate impact of various behaviors – such as “adopting a vegan diet for at least one year” or “switching from fossil fuel cars to renewable public transportation.” The team found that participants generally underestimated many low-impact actions, such as recycling and using efficient appliances, and they greatly underestimated the impact of other personal decisions, including the decision “not to buy or adopt a dog.”
The real purpose of the study was to see if certain types of climate information could help people commit to more effective actions. But just hours after the AP published its article, its purpose changed to something else entirely: an attack on people’s beloved family members. “Climate change is actually your fault because you have a dog,” one Reddit user wrote. Others in the community angrily scoffed at the idea that a pet Chihuahua could cause the climate crisis and called on researchers and the media to stop pointing the finger at everyday individuals.
Goldwart and his fellow researchers watched the reactions unfold with dismay. “If I saw a headline that said, ‘Climate scientists want to take away your dogs,’ I would be disappointed too,” she said. He added, “They certainly don’t.” “You can quote me on that.”
