At first, inequality and the environment do not seem immediately linked, but on exploring the topics it becomes evident that these issues interact frequently. So much so that understanding wealth inequality can help predict the future of climate change, and vice versa.
In popular media, the climate crisis blame game is often pushed onto the individual. Everything, from how often you forget to turn off the lights, the kind of car you drive, how much you recycle, how much water you use, or how much meat you eat, is all your personal responsibility; it is all your fault if you don’t meet every expected quota. You alone carry the future of the world on your shoulders.
While personal lifestyle can affect the climate on a small scale, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 71% of carbon dioxide emissions arise from just 100 companies worldwide. This emphasises that individual efforts cannot single-handedly solve the climate crisis.
All this blame – conveniently placed on the individual rather than the wealthy conglomerates that generate the most carbon emissions – is usually categorised under individual carbon footprint, a term popularised by oil companies like British Petroleum (BP) attempting to turn blame away from their sector and instead towards individuals without the immense wealth, power and protection that said oil giants have.
Bringing attention to the correlation of wealth inequality and the climate crisis to the macro level, we can look at the global north and south. The richer countries of the north generate significantly more carbon emissions than the poorer south. Unfairly, those who suffer the most due to the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute the least. The United States, the EU, and China are responsible for 59% of global CO2 emissions, while the entire continent of Africa is only responsible for 3% of emissions.
The climate crisis’ effects on the world are widely known. Frequent heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms are just a few hazards caused directly by climate change. The worst affected countries by these hazards are the global south, which routinely experience more disasters than their northern counterparts. The poverty and lack of resources of these countries also means they have less ability to protect themselves.
However, the north is not unaffected. Just here in Scotland, the average sea level has risen by approximately 1.4 millimetres per year since the start of the 20th century. Coastal towns experience flooding. Summers are getting drier and hotter; winters are becoming warm and wet. The climate crisis even affects students. Scotland is trying to decarbonise, especially with housing through the Heat in Buildings Strategy. The housing students live in is often sub-par and most at risk from the effects of the climate crisis. In Edinburgh, students try to find an existence in Scotland’s most expensive housing markets. Yet without mitigation efforts such as strong rent controls, the costs of decarbonisation will pass down to tenants, aggravating an affordability crisis for students.
While it is true that we cannot do much on an individual level, there are collective actions that carry a ripple effect. Consumerist culture plays a huge role in the climate crisis and props up the companies that generate the most CO2. For example, the rise in fast fashion is one of the leading causes of CO2 production. Textile production contributes more to climate change than international plane flights and shipping combined.
We can vote with our wallets and refuse to participate in such extreme consumerist culture. We can campaign against policies that encourage large companies to generate more CO2 every year, and we can campaign to ensure that the costs of transition are distributed in a just fashion.
Wealth inequality and the climate crisis are certainly linked. We can work towards structural change and act to transform consumerist culture into a more sustainable form. This article is not meant to talk down to you. I write this wearing a shirt from a fast-fashion brand. So, while we should promote accountability, we must keep in mind who the biggest emitters are. It’s not me or you, but the companies that orchestrated this climate crisis blame game in the first place.
Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash