Personal Carbon Footprint of the Rich Vastly Underestimated by...Everyone
A study in Nature Climate Change found that the personal carbon footprint of the rich is widely underestimated by both the rich and the poor. Over 4000 people from four countries were surveyed. Each dot in the diagram represents one person. The real average footprint, measured in tons of CO2 per person per year, is represented by the red dot. The vast majority of participants across the four countries overestimated the average personal carbon footprint of the poorest 50% and underestimated those of the richest 10% and 1%.
People were asked to estimate the average personal carbon footprints specific to three income groups (the bottom 50%, the top 10%, and the top 1% of income) within their country. Participants from the top 10% income segment perceived the actual carbon footprint inequality as significantly fairer than those from the general population, except in India. Is this because humans living in Denmark and the USA, believe the inequality is fair, that they deserve their lifestyle?
The dots are more spread out in India and Nigeria due to lack of knowledge about the real data. Who has time to find out about inequities in carbon emissions, when you have to put food on the table every day, when you don’t have a working internet connection, when you don’t know about the World Inequality Database?
It’s good to know that carbon emissions in rich countries sustain a very consumerist culture, sometimes described as an imperial mode of living. This mode of living suggests that people’s everyday practices and identities, rely heavily on (1) unlimited confiscation of resources; (2) a disproportionate claim on ecosystems and sinks; and (3) cheap labour from poorer countries.
The reality of emissions in the 4 countries studied is very bleak.
(data from https://wid.world/data/)
The top 1% of the population, by income, emits on average from 15 times to 30 times more than the bottom 50%. The target for emissions is close to zero tons by 2050, if we want to slow down the climate crises. Zero tons, not 269, which are emissions of the top 1% of Americans.
So, we don’t know as a society the enormous gap between the rich and the poor. If everyone knew, the revolution would start today. Another study shows how Americans have no idea which behavior cuts emissions the most, or which companies are the worst emitters in an industry. Researchers found evidence that people tend to judge climate actions they hear about most often as being the most effective at reducing emissions. In fact, the opposite is the case. If you live in America, you can test your own carbon competence in this short survey about climate-friendly behaviors.
What’s the fairest climate policy of all? (1) Let the poor emit a bit more and make the rich emit much less. (2) Rich countries should pay climate reparations, roughly 200 trillion dollars. (3) Luxury carbon taxes on things like private jets, yachts, SUVs and other oil-thirty habits. (4) A super progressive taxation scheme where the richer you are the more taxes you pay. (5) Debt forgiveness for the poor countries.
Dear Danes and Americans, you can too live simpler and avoid an imperial move of living. Individual actions won’t do it, I’m afraid. This is a systemic problem. If you see your neighbour driving a stupid cyber truck or an F150 or a Hummer, you won’t feel much motivation to take your bike to your local Cosco. Just like we banned ozone-depleting substances we can also start banning all the crazy stuff that warms the planet, destroys habitats, and makes life a hell for future generations.