LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINTS ANALYSIS

• A recent study titled "Water, Air Pollution, and Carbon Footprints of Conspicuous/Luxury Consumption in India," to which the author contributed, highlights the environmental impact of affluent individuals, particularly those engaging in consumption beyond basic needs.
• This study specifically examines the CO2, water, and particulate matter (PM2.5) footprints associated with luxury consumption choices among households in India across different economic classes.
• The analysis contrasts these luxury consumption footprints with those associated with non-luxury consumption.
• The luxury consumption basket includes categories such as dining out, vacations, furniture, and social events.

The study utilized a specific methodology to assess the environmental impact of household consumption patterns in India, particularly focusing on the divide between luxury and non-luxury goods and services. Here's a breakdown of the approach:

• The study employed an input-output analysis of the entire Indian economy. This method examines the interconnectedness between different sectors and how resources or materials flow through the production process.
• By applying this analysis to household consumption, the researchers were able to map different consumption choices (luxury vs. non-luxury) to the resources and materials required for their production.
• This approach is crucial because it goes beyond direct household water usage or emissions. It captures the "embedded" environmental impact throughout the production chain of the goods and services consumed.
• The study utilized different footprint metrics to quantify the environmental impact:

• • Water Footprint metric considers both the direct water usage by households and the embedded water used at various stages of production for the consumed goods and services.
  • PM2.5 Footprint metric captures both the embedded PM2.5 emissions associated with production and the direct emissions from household activities like burning fuelwood, kerosene, and using vehicles.
  • CO2 Footprint Similar to the PM2.5 footprint, the CO2 footprint encompasses both the embedded emissions from production and the direct CO2 emissions generated by household consumption.

• The study reveals that all three environmental footprints increase as households move from poorer to richer economic classes.
• Specifically, the footprints of the richest 10% of households are approximately double the overall average across the population.
• A notable surge in footprints is observed from the ninth to the 10th decile, with the air pollution footprint experiencing the highest increase at 68% in the 10th decile compared to the ninth.
• Conversely, the rise in the water footprint is the lowest at 39%, while CO2 emissions stand at 55%.
• This suggests that Indian consumers, particularly those in the top decile, are still in the ‘take-off’ stage, with only the wealthiest segment exhibiting substantial increases in consumption-related environmental footprints.
• The heightened footprints in the 10th decile are primarily attributed to increased expenditure on luxury consumption items.

• The study identifies eating out/restaurants as a significant contributor to the rise in environmental footprints, particularly in the top decile households, across all three footprints.
• Additionally, the consumption of fruits and nuts is highlighted as a factor driving the increase in water footprint in the 10th decile. Luxury consumption items such as personal goods, jewellery, and eating out contribute to the rise in CO2 and air pollution footprints.
• Notably, the presence of fuels like firewood in the consumption baskets of poorer households is emphasized, showcasing the contrasting impacts of modern energy transitions.
• While transitioning from biomass to LPG reduces direct footprints, the lifestyle choices associated with affluence lead to a rise in PM2.5 footprints (and subsequently, the CO2 footprint).
• The average per capita CO2 footprint of the top decile in India, at 6.7 tonnes per capita per year, is noted to be higher than the global average of 4.7 tonnes in 2010 and the annual average of 1.9 tonnes CO2eq/cap required to achieve the Paris agreement target of 1.5°C.
• While still below the levels of the average citizen in the U.S. or U.K., this disparity underscores the need for urgent attention from policymakers.
• Given the influence of elite lifestyles on broader societal aspirations, policymakers should prioritize efforts to nudge consumption levels of affluent households downwards to align with sustainability goals.

• The study emphasizes that while sustainability efforts often focus on global climate change, global environmental footprints do not necessarily align with local and regional scale footprints.
• However, local and regional environmental issues exacerbated by luxury consumption disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
• For instance, water scarcity and air pollution disproportionately impact marginalized groups, further marginalizing them, while affluent sections can afford protective measures such as air-conditioned cars and air purifiers.