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Super polluters and carbon emissions: Spotlighting how higher-income and wealthier households disproportionately despoil our atmospheric commons

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  • Adua, Lazarus

Abstract

This study examines income- and wealth-based disproportionalities in carbon emissions from energy consumption in the residential sector of the United States. An ongoing debate in the field is whether or not inequality drives environmental degradation, especially carbon emissions. This study speaks to this important debate, focusing on the micro (household) level. While numerous studies address this question, they have done so largely at the macro- (cross-national) or meso- (subnational states and provinces) level. Based on probability-weighted ordinary least squares regression analysis of nationally representative data pertaining to United States households, I find substantial positive relationship between income and wealth inequality and carbon emissions from residential energy consumption. The data show huge disproportionalities in carbon emissions from energy consumption among the households analyzed, suggesting inequality does not bode well for environmental protection. What this finding also implies is that measures implemented to reduce income- and wealth-based inequalities may double as climate change mitigation policies.

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  • Adua, Lazarus, 2022. "Super polluters and carbon emissions: Spotlighting how higher-income and wealthier households disproportionately despoil our atmospheric commons," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:162:y:2022:i:c:s0301421521006340
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112768
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