“Although at first glance it may seem that climate change affects the entire population in the same way, there are studies that show gender differences in the behaviors responsible for the origin of greenhouse gas emissions and the consequences of climate change”, he explains. Oriane Wegner, author of the article.
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Climate economics expert at the Bank of France, Wegner claims to be based on a 2021 Swedish study that says men’s consumption trends “cause on average 16% more greenhouse gases” than women’s. Men eat more meat than women (67% of French vegetarians are women), use the car more and spend more on consumer goods. (Liberation*)
In 2021, single men emitted, on average, ten tons of greenhouse gases, compared to just over eight tons for single women, despite their expenditure being “only 2%” higher than that of these women.
Wegner recognizes, however, that more than gender, it is the level of income that plays “a more important role”.
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And at the same time, the consequences are unequal.
According to UN studies cited by Wegner, 80% of people who have had to leave their homes due to extreme weather events are women.
“National public policies and international action frameworks would be more effective if interactions between gender and the environment were taken into account to reinforce their effectiveness”, concludes the author of the article.
(To AFP)
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