Can we solve the climate crisis without confronting global inequities?
A recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA found that white residents in the USA produce more climate pollution than black or hispanic residents, but black and hispanic people are exposed to more air pollution.
And that is just the USA! Think about the global inequities in the "haves" and the "have nots".
And how are we going to lift people out of poverty without making the climate crisis even worse?
If you are a resident in a wealthy country, is it your responsibility to address both problems at once? And what would that look like in terms of national and international policy?
Environmental Justice >
Environmental Justice
I believe that if you are an upper class rich citizen, you have a greater responsibility in terms of Environmental Justice than a lower class poorer citizen. As a richer individual, you have the ability to create a greater positive impact in reducing climate change than a poorer individual. It's also more sustainable and easier for you to adjust to a sustainable lifestyle and assist others in living a sustainable lifestyle. Many richer individuals also have a more individually negative impact upon the environment (splurging, their own companies anti-environment policies, transportation, non sustainable clothing/food produce, etc.), as well as an ability to avoid the negative impacts of their own environmental harm.
True, there's a good CNN article about it here 
This is definitely true. Wealthy citizens have the ability to use their resources for good and contribute to society in a positive way. For example, expensive electric cars are available to buy and the rich can afford them, they can buy solar panels and energy efficient heating and cooling systems for their homes, and more. But often, the rich instead choose to completely ignore the responsibility they have to promote sustainability, and spend millions on cars and enormous mansions and private jets and vacations with little thought for the environment. It is time to bring awareness to the impact the rich are having on the environment. There is a sense of entitlement there where they think they can do anything they want because they are rich and famous, and I think there should be limitations to how much of an impact they can have on the carbon footprint, because they contribute in a very serious and environmentally dangerous way.
I absolutely agree with everything here. Slay.
I’m going to have to disagree here. I feel that EVERYONE should put the same amount of effort into the environmental justice problems, rich or poor. Even tho wealthy citizens have the financial status to do more with money, people with a little less money could do lots more with they’re time. Such as creating fundraisers and using their voice instead of their money. Which I view as more effective. So i can see where your ideas come from but the evidence doesn’t show it being overall true. But any solution to environmental justice is something to consider.
I can see both perspectives. Everyone has the responsibility to put effort into environmental justice, but some are more equipped with the money and resources that make it possible to buy organic food or invest in electric cars. Nevertheless we all live here and we all have to do our part to minimize the damage humans inflict upon the environment.
i agree