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Carbon Inequality

Carbon inequality" refers to the disproportionate contribution to carbon emissions by different groups within society, particularly highlighting the vast gap between the emissions produced by the wealthiest and those produced by poorer populations. In essence, it describes how the world’s richest individuals and entities generate a significantly higher share of carbon emissions due to their high-consumption lifestyles, such as using private jets, yachts, and investing in polluting industries, while the least wealthy, who have minimal carbon footprints, bear the brunt of climate change impacts.

This inequality is problematic because those least responsible for emissions—often low-income individuals and communities in vulnerable regions—are the most exposed to climate risks like floods, droughts, and extreme weather. Carbon inequality thus reflects both an environmental and social justice issue, as it connects the wealth-driven carbon output of a small elite to the global challenges faced disproportionately by the poor.

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