Abstract
Non-technical summary The distribution of household carbon footprints is largely unequal within and across countries. Here, we explore household-level consumption data to illustrate the distribution of carbon footprints and consumption within 26 European Union countries, regions and social groups. The analysis further sheds light on the relationships between carbon footprints and socially desirable outcomes such as income, equality, education, nutrition, sanitation, employment and adequate living conditions.
Highlights
Emission pathways for global warming of between 1.5°C and 2.0°C require steep reductions in global net emissions, reaching 25–45% in 2030, with net-zero emissions by 2050–2070 (Masson-Delmotte et al, 2018)
In our analysis of the carbon footprint (CF) of European households using household-level consumption data, we find significant inequality in the distribution of CFs
The top 10% of the European Union (EU) population with the highest CFs contribute more carbon compared to the 50% of the EU population with the lowest CFs
Summary
Emission pathways for global warming of between 1.5°C and 2.0°C require steep reductions in global net emissions, reaching 25–45% in 2030 (compared to 2010 levels), with net-zero emissions by 2050–2070 (Masson-Delmotte et al, 2018). On a per-capita basis, global emissions need to go down to 2.5–3.3 tCO2 per capita in 2030 (Global Carbon Project, 2018; UN, 2017) or less (Girod et al, 2014; O’Neill et al, 2018; Tukker et al, 2016). These reductions are necessary to halt climate change and would require rapid and far-reaching changes in all aspects of society, including production and consumption practices. The EU has an average carbon footprint of 8.2 tCO2eq/cap and constitutes 22% of global GHG emissions (Ivanova et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
