The poorest, the greenest

There is a common belief that a green or ecofriendly life is for those who can spare the money for it. For, who can afford organic or vegan or designer wear in natural fibre? A new study that measures the carbon footprint of households, cities and regions across India has turned such assumptions on its head. It has shown that the poorest in this country are living the eco-responsible way, with a carbon footprint (CF) that is one-seventh of the footprint of the richest. Put it another way, it shows that the top 20% of high-expenditure households (living on more than $4.93 a day) contribute 7x more than the emissions traceable to the poorest (living on less than $1.9 a day).

The study, conducted by the Japan-based Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, used consumption data across 623 districts in the country. The mean carbon footprint of every citizen was estimated to be 0.56 tonne carbon dioxide per capita per year, with 1.32 tonne among the richest and 0.19 tonne among the poorest.  

Electricity contributed the most to household CF, regardless of socio-economic background. But the share of electricity to the richest’s CF (36%) is significant higher than its share to the poorest’s CF (26%). Among low- and middle income households, who live on less than $1.92 to $3.37 a day, CF was primarily from electricity, food and consumables such as detergents and clothing. Among the lower-expenditure households, CF (17% of it) was largely from consumables. Among the rich, consumption activities that contribute significantly to their CF include private transport (7.2%) and purchase of durable goods (8.3%).

The study suggests India can control the climate change crisis at a national level if it addresses income inequalities in the lower-expenditure groups. Here’s why: moving the 20% of the poverty-stricken group up to the low-expenditure category will cause an increase of only 1.97% in carbon emissions, while moving middle-expenditure families to the higher expenditure group can result in a 10% rise in carbon emissions. Also, if all Indians start consuming the way the rich do, that can lead to nearly 50% rise in emissions. So, if we have to focus on economic betterment, we will do it most eco-responsibly by helping the poor move up into the low-expenditure group (who live on ($1.92 to $2.55 per day). Instead, if we choose let the richest get richer and have the rest of India aspiring to emulate their consumption patterns, we are in for a sooty future.