Energy/faq

Inequality of environmental footprint

Myth: "Your carbon footprint doesn't matter, because the billionaires are responsible for most of global emissions anyway."

Fact:

• The richest 10% of the world is responsible for half of global emissions.
• If you're middle-class in a developed country, you are part of this 10%.

(more details)(more details)

• Corporate emissions are a function of what people buy.
• Wealth inequality is more extreme than carbon inequality. (...)( For example, an ultra rich person who earns 100x more money than average, probably emits about 10x more carbon than average.^{[citation needed]} )
  • "Private jets are responsible for around 4% of all aviation emissions"
• Rich people do still have outrageous carbon footprints. We are IN NO WAY trying to justify their lifestyles. They have to consume less.
• Poor people don't usually have high carbon footprints. We are IN NO WAY trying to tell people who suffer from poverty to consume less.
  • The poorest 50% percent of the world is responsible for only 10% of global emissions.

Myth: "Your carbon footprint doesn't matter, because overpopulation is the real problem."

Fact:

• The poorest 50% percent of the world is responsible for only 10% of global emissions.
• Earth could easily feed 8 billion people or more, if there wasn't so much food waste & animal agriculture.