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

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.

Automated summary

This study examines the relationship between income and wealth inequality and carbon emissions from residential energy consumption in the United States. The findings suggest a substantial positive correlation between inequality and carbon emissions, highlighting the importance of addressing inequality for environmental protection. This implies that measures to reduce inequality could also serve as climate change mitigation policies.