Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries

Kristian S. Nielsen; Jan M. Bauer; Ramit Debnath; Charles A. Emogor; Sonja Geiger; Sakshi Ghai; Wencke Gwozdz; Ulf J. J. Hahnel

doi:10.1038/s41558-024-02130-y

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Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries

Kristian S. Nielsen, Jan M. Bauer, Ramit Debnath, Charles A. Emogor, Sonja Geiger, Sakshi Ghai, Wencke Gwozdz and Ulf J. J. Hahnel

Nature Climate Change, Vol.14, pp.1136-1143

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02130-y

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Abstract

Extensive research highlights global and within-country inequality in personal carbon footprints. However, the extent to which people are aware of these inequalities remains unclear. Here we use an online survey distributed across four diverse countries: Denmark, India, Nigeria and the USA, to show widespread underestimation of carbon footprint inequality, irrespective of participants’ country and income segment. Of the 4,003 participants, within each country, 50% of participants were sampled from the top 10% income group. Our results show links between carbon footprint inequality perceptions and climate policy support, but with significant variations observed across the four countries and with participants’ income segments. Furthermore, there are links to the perceived fairness of actual carbon footprint inequality, highlighting the need to raise awareness about carbon footprint inequality and further unpack its implications for climate justice and policy.

Details

Title: Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries
Authors/Creators: Kristian S. Nielsen
Jan M. Bauer
Ramit Debnath
Charles A. Emogor
Sonja Geiger - Murdoch University, School of Psychology
Sakshi Ghai
Wencke Gwozdz
Ulf J. J. Hahnel
Publication Details: Nature Climate Change, Vol.14, pp.1136-1143
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005703767907891
Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 6 Social Sciences; 6.115 Sustainability Science; 6.115.234 Carbon Mitigation
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology