Daily Hot Topic
Topic : Household Consumption and Environmental Impact in India
GS-2 Mains : Economy and Environment
Revision Notes
Climate Change vs Local Issues:
- Climate change is global, but water scarcity and air pollution are often local/regional.
Importance of Household Footprints:
- Understanding household environmental impact is crucial for addressing local issues.
Recent Study in India:
- “Water, air pollution and carbon footprints of conspicuous/luxury consumption in India”
- Examines CO2, water, and PM2.5 footprints of luxury consumption vs non-luxury.
- Luxury categories include dining out, vacations, furniture, etc.
Environmental Impact Assessment:
- Input/output analysis used to track resource use throughout production chains.
- Captures indirect (“embedded”) environmental impacts of consumption choices.
- PM2.5, water, and CO2 footprints consider both direct and embedded impacts.
Key Findings:
- All three footprints increase with economic class.
- Top 10% have double the average footprint.
- Biggest surge in footprints occurs between 9th and 10th decile.
- Air pollution footprint increases the most (68%) in the top decile.
- CO2 emissions and water footprint increase by 55% and 39% respectively.
- Top decile consumers are still in a “take-off” stage, but show substantial increases in footprints.
- Increased luxury consumption is the primary driver of high footprints in the top decile.
Key Contributors to High Footprints:
- Eating out (restaurants) is a major contributor across all three footprints, especially for the top decile.
- Fruit and nut consumption drives water footprint increase in the top decile.
- Luxury goods (jewelry, personal goods) and eating out contribute to CO2 and air pollution footprints.
- Fuel choices: Firewood use in poorer households vs LPG use in wealthier households shows contrasting impacts.
- Transition to LPG reduces direct footprint, but affluent lifestyles can lead to higher PM2.5 (and CO2) footprints.
Per Capita CO2 Footprint:
- Top decile in India has a higher CO2 footprint than the global average and the Paris Agreement target (1.5°C).
- This highlights the need for policy changes to promote sustainable consumption among affluent households.
Local vs Global Focus:
- Sustainability efforts often focus on global climate change, neglecting local/regional issues.
Disproportionate Impact:
- Local environmental issues (water scarcity, air pollution) worsened by luxury consumption disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
- Affluent sections can afford protective measures, exacerbating existing disparities.
Importance of Multi-Footprint Analysis:
- Analyzing multiple environmental footprints is crucial for environmental justice and equitable sustainability efforts.