E-paper

Authors list: Nielsen, Kristian S.; Bauer, Jan M.; Debnath, Ramit; Emogor, Charles A.; Geiger, Sonja M.; Ghai, Sakshi; Gwozdz, Wencke; Hahnel, Ulf J.J.

Publication year: 2024

Journal: PsyArXiv

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/3agzk

Publisher: Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS)

Abstract: 

Extensive research highlights global and within-country inequality in personal carbon footprints. However, the extent to which people are aware of this inequality remains unclear. This study examined perceptions of within-country carbon footprint inequality and their implications for climate policy support and the perceived fairness of actual carbon footprint inequality. We administered an online survey across four diverse countries – Denmark, India, Nigeria, and the United States (n = 4,003) – with 50% of participants sampled from the Top 10% income group. Our results reveal widespread underestimation of carbon footprint inequality, irrespective of participants’ country and income segment. We also find direct links between carbon footprint inequality perceptions and climate policy support and the perceived fairness of actual carbon footprint inequality but with significant variations observed across the four countries. These results underscore the urgent need to raise awareness about carbon footprint inequality and further unpack its implications for climate justice and policy.

Harvard Citation style: Nielsen, K., Bauer, J., Debnath, R., Emogor, C., Geiger, S., Ghai, S., et al. (2024) Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four socio-economically diverse countries [Preprint]. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/3agzk

APA Citation style: Nielsen, K., Bauer, J., Debnath, R., Emogor, C., Geiger, S., Ghai, S., Gwozdz, W., & Hahnel, U. (2024). Underestimation of personal carbon footprint inequality in four socio-economically diverse countries. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/3agzk