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Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries

Author

Listed:
  • Kristian S. Nielsen

    (Copenhagen Business School)

  • Jan M. Bauer

    (Copenhagen Business School)

  • Ramit Debnath

    (University of Cambridge
    California Institute of Technology)

  • Charles A. Emogor

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Sonja M. Geiger

    (Murdoch University)

  • Sakshi Ghai

    (University of Oxford)

  • Wencke Gwozdz

    (Justus-Liebig-University Giessen)

  • Ulf J. J. Hahnel

    (University of Basel)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristian S. Nielsen & Jan M. Bauer & Ramit Debnath & Charles A. Emogor & Sonja M. Geiger & Sakshi Ghai & Wencke Gwozdz & Ulf J. J. Hahnel, 2024. "Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four diverse countries," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(11), pages 1136-1143, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:14:y:2024:i:11:d:10.1038_s41558-024-02130-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02130-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Drews, Stefan, 2025. "Towards systems-oriented behavioral ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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