“Higher earners’ lifestyle more harmful to the environment”

Those with a higher income use more energy and resources, regardless whether they consider themselves to be environmentally aware or not, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has found in a study. “A higher income is often used for bigger cars, larger flats and more frequent flying,” said UBA president Maria Krautzberger. Buying organic food and sorting waste does not offset these higher CO₂ emissions, the study found. The group of “environmentally aware average consumers”, however, does combine a relatively high income and high environmental awareness to achieve a reduced energy consumption, for example by buying smaller cars, use car-sharing and reduced meat consumption.

Get the UBA study in German here.