The United Nations and several Nobel Prize winners have suggested that political and economic inequality contributes significantly to high carbon emissions. They argue that societies where wealth, power, and opportunities are more equally distributed—characteristically more democratic societies—are more adept at reducing their emissions. Contrary to this belief, however, evidence suggests otherwise.
Professor Indra de Soysa from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s Department of Sociology and Political Science challenges the conventional wisdom. He argues that it is a misconception to believe that democracy inherently fosters better climate outcomes. This assumption, he suggests, is often ideologically driven and not supported by empirical data. According to de Soysa, countries with significant economic and political disparities frequently report lower emissions than their more democratic counterparts, where wealth and power are more evenly spread.
De Soysa points out that a more equitable distribution of wealth implies an increase in consumption as the poorest sections of society improve their living standards, which, in turn, drives up emissions. His research, examining data from about 170 countries from 1990 to 2020, sourced from the World Bank, supports this observation. The findings indicate that nations with stark inequalities in various societal aspects, including the economy, opportunities, and politics, tend to have lower climate emissions.
This paradox is further elucidated by the fact that undemocratic countries often have lower overall wealth, and it is this overall economic footprint, rather than equality per se, that most influences carbon emissions. In less democratic settings, wealth tends to be concentrated in the hands of a few, which restricts widespread consumer activity and thus limits emissions. On the other hand, more democratic nations, with their generally higher levels of wealth distributed across a broader population segment, see increased total consumption and, consequently, higher emissions.
This relationship between wealth and emissions is clear and undeniable. Increased national income per capita is directly correlated with higher carbon emissions. The wealthier a society becomes, the more its consumption patterns contribute to environmental degradation. This includes greater consumption of products with significant environmental impacts, such as higher meat consumption over plant-based alternatives.
De Soysa also highlights that greater economic freedom in more equal societies leads to heightened economic activity, increasing both consumption and production emissions. He presents a thought-provoking scenario envisaging a future where countries with currently lower consumption levels begin to emulate those with higher consumption rates, significantly exacerbating global emissions.
Addressing this issue presents a complex challenge often described as a ‘wicked problem’. The moral and practical dilemma is whether to maintain economic disparities to curb emissions, which seems unfair and counterintuitive to global efforts to reduce poverty and inequality. De Soysa argues that we must explore new ways of thinking and innovating to balance reducing emissions and promoting economic equity. He believes that technological advancements offer the most feasible solution to this dilemma. While other factors like wars, pandemics, or financial crises might temporarily reduce consumption and emissions, sustainable and equitable technological developments are crucial for long-term solutions.
However, the development and implementation of such technologies are typically slow and fraught with challenges, often creating disparities between those who benefit and those who are left behind. As we navigate these complexities, the need for innovative solutions that do not compromise on equity or sustainability becomes ever more apparent, making it a central focus for researchers and policymakers alike.
More information: Indra de Soysa, Green with envy? The effects of inequality and equity within and across social groups on greenhouse gas emissions, 1990–2020, World Development. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106885
Journal information: World Development Provided by Norwegian University of Science and Technology