Recalibrating Daily Life: Understanding the Carbon Cost of Cars, Pets and Modern Habits
We live in uncertain times. Spanning from global political unrest to the climate crisis (and all its consequences, from food insecurity to mass human displacement), being comfortable with unknowability (simply: when we accept that we do not know what will happen, particularly in uncertain times) may simply be part and parcel of life. Nonetheless, remaining idle and allowing ourselves to go with the flow is only one approach to life; what if we could recalibrate certain aspects of living that allow us to float better amidst the considerable challenges ahead?
Embracing a more positive (or at least constructive) outlook, couldn’t we collectively mitigate the consequences of such global trauma as it occurs? Indeed, many people are looking inward to see what tangible actions they can take individually towards the major crises of modern times, including adapting their lifestyles in meaningful ways—be it eating, travelling or selectively buying. This is nothing new; however, the sense of helplessness is palpable, as the existential threat of the climate crisis becomes more acute—and sooner than initially predicted.
Right now, climate conversations are affecting us all, with climate whiplash and flips in cities across the world, from Los Angeles to Khartoum to Hong Kong; as the global conversation around the climate emergency intensifies, the importance of carbon balancing becomes increasingly clear. The carbon footprint left behind by human activities—through transportation, energy consumption or even the companionship of pets—has become a topic of growing concern.
Every action that contributes to carbon pollution, from driving a car to caring for a pet, adds a layer to the overall environmental impact. Therefore, understanding the cumulative effect of these choices is essential for us in assessing the true cost of modern living. Although pets and vehicles might seem unrelated at first glance, both contribute considerably to carbon emissions, making them vital targets for sustainability efforts.
1 Billion Pets are having a massive effect on our climate
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CO2 equivalent emission of your ride per person:
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CO2 equivalent emission of your annual commute* would be :
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The Complexities of Carbon Balancing
Put simply, carbon balancing is a strategy of offsetting carbon emissions created by human activities. This could be by planting trees, backing renewable energy initiatives or taking steps to reduce environmental damage.
However, achieving a ‘true’ balance is admittedly complex, demanding a multifaceted approach. For example, although planting trees may contribute towards the absorption of carbon, the sheer magnitude of pollution produced through global aspects like transportation and pet ownership presents a formidable challenge.
Therefore, balancing these emissions demands more than simply environmental awareness—it requires systemic personal changes. These modifications can be made together, step by step; nonetheless, two juggernauts of pollution (cars and pets) are the focus of review here.
A Path Toward Sustainable Living?
As the well-established, well-documented and much-debated environmental crisis escalates, individuals, industries and governments must explore more sustainable solutions without question.
9Trees has noted in the past that, although seemingly minute actions (such as reducing car use, choosing eco-friendly pet products, and supporting carbon offset programmes) remain valuable, long-term change will require broad collaboration.
Carbon balancing will not be solved by any one sector or solution, but by a collective effort that reimagines how to live in harmony with the planet’s ecosystems. Through thoughtful, informed actions, a more sustainable future is within reach.
The Carbon Emissions of Vehicles
A record number of electric cars were sold in the UK during 2024. Below is a review of this and other things we can do to reduce our emissions
Scientists have long agreed that fossil fuels drive climate, health and biodiversity crises. Vehicles generate a substantial amount of carbon emissions worldwide, with a typical passenger vehicle emitting something close to 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually, contributing greatly to air pollution and global warming. In the UK context, for a typical passenger vehicle, this equates to around 1.42 metric tons of CO2 annually (*based on an average CO2 emission rate of 119.7 grams per kilometre and an average annual mileage of 12,000 kilometres).
This is, of course, highly variable and depends on the make, model and driving patterns of each user. With urbanisation continuing to expand, vehicle use is increasing, resulting in greater demand and consumption of fuel, which further exacerbates the detrimental effects on the environment.
A common obstacle to the adoption of more green approaches in our lives is that we tend to feel inconvenienced in doing so, commonly feeling more like a burden than a benefit.
Sustainability is fast becoming a moral imperative. Making small affirmative actions should not feel cumbersome and can lead to positive emotions and greater well-being overall. Of course, focusing on individual actions must be implemented alongside broader systemic changes.
The Guardian recently found that voting for politicians pledging strong climate measures was one of the most effective actions for individuals in the fight against global warming, according to authors and editors of the IPCC climate reports.
For starters, in cities and regions where car travel remains necessary, governments should act decisively by encouraging people to rely less on their cars, thus lowering emissions over time. This is an area where voting is most effective. Policy changes could include:
Implementing sustainable driving infrastructure (such as carpool lanes, electric vehicle charging stations and improved public transit) to encourage lower-emission driving
Incentivise adopting eco-friendly vehicles (by providing tax credits and rebates for the purchase of low-emission cars)
Rethinking urban planning for reduced car dependence. Compact, walkable cities with mixed-use zoning reduce the need for long car commutes, comprising neighbourhoods with easy access to public transport, bike lanes and essential services.
Read more about the pitfalls of the “15-minute city” concept
Alongside voting smartly, small adaptations to daily life will be crucial. This involves assessing the impact of various areas of living and how they can be approached differently. If you are thinking about personally contributing towards collective efforts for change by altering your lifestyle, mitigating as much of the environmental impact of car travel as possible can be achieved via several strategies.
Toolbox of potential solutions
1. Use Public Transport and Alternative Modes of Transport
Using public transportation or alternative transport options (such as bicycles or walking) can radically reduce the requirement for car trips. In cities with well-developed transit systems, swapping a car for a bus or train can markedly cut individual carbon emissions and alleviate traffic congestion.
2. Carpooling and Ride-Sharing
Granted, not everyone has the privilege of well-connected public transport. However, for those who do, reducing vehicle numbers on the road can markedly lower pollutants. Carpooling and ride-sharing programmes can distribute the potential carbon footprint of a single car trip between multiple people. Shared rides also decrease the overall need for individual car ownership, leading to fewer cars and less pollution.
3. Telecommuting and Remote Work
A decrease in everyday commutes (thanks to remote work or telecommuting) has a direct impact on reducing car emissions. As more companies consider flexible work structures, fewer employees are travelling, which ultimately diminishes traffic. Moreover, for those who can work from home, this is an ideal means of minimising car travel entirely. However, the debate continues about how effective this mode of working can be in terms of productivity.
4. Transition to Electric Vehicles
Although electric vehicles (EVs) are generally considered better for the environment than petrol-powered cars, particularly considering their lifetime emissions, entirely replacing the (approximately 246 million) combustion-powered passenger cars in Europe with electric cars is not considered feasible. This is due to their production demanding significant resources, energy, and their use being accompanied by enormous demand for land and infrastructure.
Nevertheless, the battery drive is the most efficient and environmentally compatible option. Moreover, a battery plus electric motor together is markedly more efficient than an internal combustion engine (ICE), used in a fossil fuel car: about 80% of the energy stored in an EV battery goes to driving the wheels, whereas ICEs are only around 20% efficient with much of the energy lost through heat (whereas, the overall efficiency of an EV is reduced by losses occuring when electricity is generated).
Meanwhile, although measures like fuel efficiency technology might be promising, the effect is perhaps too slow and not enough to reduce pollution. In addition, the demand for large cars is preventing the U.S. from meeting its promised national fuel-efficiency goals. Thus, vehicles remain a gargantuan challenge in efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.
5. Mitigation Through Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars offer an alternative solution for those unable to make the full transition to EVs, combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, reducing fuel consumption and emissions compared to conventional vehicles. However, their efficacy depends on how much they are driven by electricity; meanwhile, tax breaks and lower running costs mean EV buyers save in the long term.
6. Improve Fuel Efficiency
Changing vehicles can be pricey. However, not all approaches have a high cost; a mindful approach to improving fuel efficiency provides a simple and feasible means of contributing to the push for mitigation. In illustration, regular vehicle maintenance (such as keeping tyres properly inflated, changing the oil and confirming the engine is tuned) boosts fuel economy. Equally, eco-driving techniques (such as avoiding rapid acceleration and maintaining consistent speeds) can decrease fuel consumption.
7. Carbon Calculator Testing:
9Trees CIC offers a Travel Calculator, which allows drivers to simulate the environmental impact of vehicle choices and driving patterns. Through a process of testing possible scenarios, users can comprehend how each decision (such as driving less or using a more fuel-efficient vehicle) can lower their overall carbon footprint.
Introducing the 9Trees Travel UK Carbon Footprint Calculator
For those seeking to track and reduce car travel emissions, tools like the 9Trees Carbon Calculator UK Carbon Footprint Calculator can be invaluable. Using this resource, users can input their travel data and calculate the carbon footprint of their driving habits and more, ultimately to identify where small modifications can be made, where possible. Users can identify areas for improvement, such as switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles or adjusting their driving behaviour, which can lead to cumulative emissions reductions over time.
Pets and Their (Perhaps) Surprising Carbon Footprint
Pet ownership, particularly feeding large carnivorous animals, generates carbon emissions comparable to certain vehicle types. Both sectors contribute through resource-intensive inputs: vehicles rely on fossil fuels, while pets demand energy-intensive food production.
1 billion pets (or 44%) of the UK own a pet - A look at their carbon footprint and why we should do something about it!
We provide a simple way to buy a tree for your pet or take out a subscription.
Companion animals, commonly seen as benign members of a household, naturally also contribute to carbon emissions in innumerable ways: ranging from the production of pet food to the environmental impact of veterinary services, pets create a ripple effect on the carbon scale. According to research, pets (particularly dogs and cats) cause significantly more damage to the environment than you might realise; a recent review from Australia purported that “the environmental impact of owned dogs is far greater, more insidious, and more concerning than is generally recognised”.
Although the carbon footprint of one pet might appear negligible, the cumulative effect of millions of pets worldwide is naturally far more consequential; today, the 2024 Global Pet Parent Study estimates the global pet population at around 1 billion. In the UK, the number of households with pets is estimated to be around 12 million (or 44%).
Pets contribute to carbon pollution through their diets, waste and the products used for their care. Ultimately, gaining insight into the interconnectedness of these seemingly small factors is fundamental to gaining a fuller panorama of environmental responsibility in daily life. The following toolbox explores achievable ways of mitigating the carbon footprint of pets whilst nurturing their well-being and happiness.
Are your pets leaving more than paw prints behind? 🐾 Their impact might surprise you. Credit: Michael Cunningham.
Toolbox of potential solutions
1. Calculating pet carbon pawprints
First, there are various pet footprint calculators online; however, we make it simple to work out how many trees to plant to balance your pet's carbon footprint! (particularly those for dogs, the leading source of carbon amongst pets). An average-sized dog can generate 770kg of CO2e per year, while a larger dog might generate up to 2,500kg per year (equivalent to a 90-hour drive); meanwhile, a pet cat generates on average 310kg of CO2e per year, equivalent to a 12-hour drive. Ergo, we can see that dogs are responsible for a significantly higher amount of carbon pollution than most pets.
2. Choose sustainable pet food
The diet of our pets greatly contributes towards our environmental impact, particularly in the case of traditional pet foods that commonly include elevated levels of meat. Therefore, to minimise this, consider changing to environmentally friendly pet food alternatives where possible:
Welcome plant-based diets: There are numerous high-quality, nutritionally balanced vegetarian and vegan pet foods, slowly becoming more well-known for their resource-efficient production methods with markedly lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Research sustainable protein sources: If animal-based diets are preferred, consider pet foods assembled using ethically sourced proteins—look for products that contain responsibly raised and locally sourced ingredients, as these alternatives tend to have a minimised carbon footprint.
Prepare homemade meals: Homemade pet food provides greater control over ingredients and contributes towards further carbon footprint reduction. Consider collaborating with your veterinarian to confirm that your homemade pet food meets nutritional requirements
3. Minimise waste
Pets create waste that can contribute to environmental issues if not properly managed. The following actions can aid us in reducing this aspect of our pets:
Change dog waste bags. Biodegradable bags can be used instead of plastic bags (which take a long time to decompose, typically in landfill sites).
Try cat litter alternatives. Clay cat litter has environmental disadvantages—consider swapping to biodegradable or eco-friendly alternatives (such as pine, wheat or corn-based litter options).
Try composting pet waste. Using a composter (if you have access to a garden) is simple and effective. Note: Avoid using in vegetable gardens to avert potential health hazards.
4. “Reduce, reuse, recycle” with pet products
The pet industry contributes an extensive scope of products, spanning from toys to accessories, that can leave a considerable carbon footprint. To be more eco-conscious with pet-related purchases, consider these ideas:
Opt for long-lasting products: High-quality, durable pet options last longer, reducing the necessity for periodic replacements.
Shop secondhand: Secondhand pet products (such as toys, beds and crates) in thrift stores or online marketplaces extend the life of these commodities and reduce waste.
Recycle packaging: Numerous pet products are packaged with materials that can be recycled.
5. Adopt, don’t shop
Instead of purchasing a pet from a breeder, adopting one from a shelter or rescue service is more positive for the environment on many levels. Adoption reduces the demand for breeding, a process with a substantial carbon footprint. Equally, spaying or neutering pets can aid in controlling the population of homeless animals.
6. Reduce pet travel emissions
Regardless of whether we are travelling to the vet or embarking on a holiday with pets, there are easy means of minimising the carbon emissions that correlate with pet travel:
Consider carpooling or using public transportation: Whenever and wherever possible, share rides with other pet owners or use public transportation to reduce vehicles on the road.
Plan more eco-friendly holidays: For those taking pets on a trip, a little extra time researching eco-friendly accommodations and destinations can contribute greatly to a more mindful approach overall.
Rebalance travel emissions: Organisations like 9Trees offer carbon balancing initiatives to tackle pollution produced during pet travel. Use the 9Trees CIC carbon calculator to work out areas for adaptation.
7. Practice responsible pet ownership
Responsible pet ownership goes beyond lowering the carbon footprint of the pet; it also boosts their well-being:
Professional training: Invest time in training pets to deal with persistent behavioural issues, which can ultimately lead to unnecessary use of resources or pet abandonment.
Prevent overpopulation: Spaying or neutering pets reduces their carbon footprint and prevents overpopulation, which can strain resources and lead to more animals in shelters.
Regular veterinary care: Schedule regular veterinary check-ups to maintain pet health and circumvent costly treatments that may have a greater environmental impact.
A New Approach to Living?
Just as opting for electric vehicles reduces carbon output, switching to plant-based pet diets or adopting smaller animals can lower ecological footprint, highlighting how consumer behaviour influences sustainability across these seemingly unconnected areas.
Strategies to curb emissions in pets and vehicles include adopting more efficient technologies, such as electric cars and eco-friendly pet foods, alongside lifestyle changes that minimise waste and energy use. Ultimately, recognising the shared goal of carbon reduction in pet care and vehicle use spotlights the critical importance of integrated strategies for sustainability, where responsible choices in both domains contribute to environmental positivity.
Final Thoughts: An Antidote to Modern Living Emissions?
As this article has shown (and is a core message of the 9Trees team), in times where it feels like an uphill struggle to fight the detrimental effects (and existential threats) posed by the global climate crisis, we do have a collective responsibility to act. A common explanation of our inaction lies in the question, “Why should I bother?”, when irresponsible international corporations are the largest contributors to anthropogenic climate disruption and the systems are often simply not in place for personal changes to make a tangible difference.
However, 9Trees (and this article) argues that, together, the changes need not be wholesale; instead, minimal alterations in our lifestyles, habits and routines can make every small, cumulative difference and give us a fighting chance. From merely reducing meat consumption where possible to taking public transport where possible to recycling and reducing where possible, we can rebalance the stakes in our favour—together, in times where it seems like we are all individuals and not a singular and interconnected race of human beings, now is the time for community cohesion!
Act now - purchase a tree for your pet, for your commute, as a one-off gift or subscribe for annual use!
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By Neil Insh, Researcher at 9Trees