Household Carbon Footprint: Rural and Urban Community

Abstract

A significant disparity exists in the living conditions and lifestyles of people living in rural and urban India. Based on geographical location and lifestyle, an individual's contribution to the global carbon footprint has been estimated in this study. This study examines the household carbon footprint in different rural and urban regions of West Bengal. It analyzes the difference of contribution of the factors based on one’s geographical location and how an individual's socioeconomic status affects carbon footprint. Data on the consumption of goods and services resulting in GHG emissions was gathered at the household (N=243) level through a questionnaire survey in different districts of West Bengal. The average carbon footprint in rural areas is estimated to be 0.56 tones CO2e per capita per year. In urban areas, it is 2.33 tones CO2e per capita per year significant difference is found in the annual per capita carbon footprint (household, travel, lifestyle, and total carbon footprint) among the various income groups of rural and urban areas. Another significant difference is found among different monthly expenditure categories between urban and rural households. Based on the information given by the respondents of the rural and urban areas the difference regarding electricity consumption, travelling details, monthly expenditure category, type of energy used, cooking fuel, annual household, travel, and lifestyle carbon footprint have been discussed graphically. This study looked at the sectoral contribution (activity-wise, e.g., cooking, transportation, etc.) and the rural-urban disparity in the individual carbon footprint.