You need to buy smaller dogs and feed them insects to fight climate change

quote:

---

A CNN climate piece arguing that pets and their "meat-heavy diet" are major contributors to climate change was shared online this week.

Though the piece was written last month, the outlet shared the piece on Twitter Friday, causing a stir among users.

The piece opened with the statement, "Our four-legged friends don’t drive gas-guzzling SUVs or use energy-sucking appliances, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a climate impact. In fact, researchers have showed that pets play a significant role in the climate crisis."

CNN pointed to the "products we buy for them" that contribute to the climate crisis, specifically their food. The article stated, "Their meat-heavy diet is the biggest contributor to their carbon pawprints, which requires an abundance of energy, land and water to produce. And the production of pet food emits huge amounts of planet-warming gases."

The piece offered ways that owners can reduce their beloved animals’ "carbon pawprint."

It suggested pet owners re-assess their pet’s diet, offering "lab-grown meat" and "insect-based pet foods" as a potential option for them. The article also recommended making sure that pet products, such as leashes, bags, toys and bowls are recyclable, and also advised that potential owners maybe adopt smaller breeds to minimize climate impact.

---