ABSTRACT
Carbon inequality concerns the disproportional distribution of carbon emissions across countries, populations, and time. Historically, high-income countries and individuals have been responsible for much higher carbon emissions (and the associated greenhouse gases responsible for climate change) than low-income countries and individuals. Despite contributing less to the problem, low-income countries and communities are more vulnerable to the destructive effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, and have fewer resources to adapt and mitigate those effects (see Climate Justice). Carbon inequality also manifests itself across time, as past and present generations are exclusively responsible for the carbon emissions driving climate change, jeopardizing the well-being of future generations. Carbon inequality is a multifaceted concept that highlights the complexities of carbon footprint accounting, its intricate implications, and the need to address it in tandem with socio-economic inequality.
