It is widely accepted that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are altering how our climate acts. But why have greenhouse gases risen to a dangerous level? One interesting explanation is inequality.
 |
| The majority of people live sustainable lives. The most carbon intensive lifestyles come from the opposite ends of the income spectrum. They result from the consumer lifestyles of the rich and the high survival emissions of the poor. Source: Wikipedia, Jetlux |
Ken Conca found that the majority of people live sustainable lives. The lifestyles of the rich and very poor are the most carbon intensive.
Paul Wapner and John Willoughby conclude that addressing inequality is vital to solving climate change. They advocate both economic development of the poor as well as income reduction of the rich. Note that in this context 'rich' does not just apply to millionaires and billionaires. As demonstrated by my previous
posts, I am guilty of emitting carbon at and unsustainable rate. Addressing inequality would also assist with the international talks that play such an important role in developing global climate strategies. Politicians from the Global South have pointed to inequality as an issue that
undermines the trust necessary to move policy forward.
The problem of
inequality and its relation the climate change will likely be increasingly examined as both are worsening. While the gap in global income is concerning, it, fortunately, can be tackled in many different ways. I will first explore the more universally palatable solution of development to decrease high survival emission. Then solutions that tackle the dominate emissions of the rich will be considered.
