Rethinking Climate Change and Inequality: From Carbon Footprints to Class Power

Carbon footprint methodology is the primary way in which individuals and institutions account for climate responsibility. Many have used such methodologies to show vast footprint inequalities between rich and poor consumers. Despite these progressive conclusions, carbon footprint tools can fundamentally obscure how power works in a global capitalist economy. Carbon footprint methods draws its basis from theories in economics and ecology that accord 'consumers' an oversized role in driving economic and ecological systems. In this talk, Dr. Matt Huber argues for a more standard view of 'class' that centers on who control the means of production (particularly those in the industrial sector). While carbon footprint methods give us the sense responsibility for climate change is fundamentally diffuse, the class view shows it's highly concentrated among those who actually profit from the system. Dr. Huber will also use some of his research into the nitrogen fertilizer industry to illustrate this argument.