Individual Carbon Footprints: A Key to Equitable Climate Policy
A recent blog post by Prof. Thomas Bernauer explores the importance of understanding the climate impacts of various population groups. This is key to devising climate policies that are not only equitable but also resonate with the majority. The article distills the latest insights from the Swiss Environmental Panel. These findings shed light on the varied behaviors and carbon footprints across the population and identify those potentially most affected by climate policies.
Note: This is a summarized version of the original blog post on the ETH website. The full blog post is available in English and German.
In a recent ETH blog post Prof. Bernauer discusses the significance of recording greenhouse gas emissions by source and sector. He particularly focuses on Switzerland, where, despite contributing less than one percent to global emissions, the per capita impact is substantial, especially when considering imported goods. Bernauer argues that while these average values are useful for international comparisons, they overlook the disparities among individuals or groups within the country.
The Swiss Environmental Panel's research involved surveying about 7,500 people to estimate individual carbon footprints in Switzerland. The study revealed substantial variations in emissions, influenced primarily by income levels. Higher earners emit more greenhouse gases, mainly due to air travel. Other factors, like environmental attitudes, gender, and education, also impact carbon footprints, but to a lesser degree.
Contrary to popular belief, the study found no significant urban-rural divide in emissions or in attitudes toward climate policy. It challenges the notion that climate policies disproportionately burden the rural or poorer populations. In fact, higher-income groups with larger carbon footprints are more impacted by climate policies.
Bernauer stresses that an equitable climate policy should balance costs and benefits across all societal segments. Understanding the emissions of various groups can aid in designing targeted support for those more affected by climate measures, fostering greater support for climate action.
The post concludes with a powerful message: the primary challenge for climate policy is to design measures that equitably distribute costs and benefits across all regions and population groups. A deeper understanding of emissions from various social strata can aid in identifying and supporting those most affected by climate policies.
For the full article, along with references, please visit the blog post by Prof. Thomas Bernauer (available in German and English).
Swiss Environmental Panel
The Swiss Environmental Panel is a collaborative effort between ETH Zurich researchers and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). This initiative produces biannual surveys of a random selection of thousands of Swiss residents. These surveys focus on gathering opinions on environmental policies and personal environmental practices. The tenth iteration included gathering data on individual carbon footprints. The full report can be dowloaded here (available in German).
More information about the panel and its findings is accessible on the Swiss Environmental Panel's webpage.