Real men are polluters, say the Swedes

Foreign ministry of Sweden report finds a small group of males responsible for disproportionate amount of emissions.

29.10.2007 |Chantal van den Bossche

A “very small group” of Swedish men is responsible for the lion’s share of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 90-page report published by the foreign Ministry of Sweden on Thursday the 25th of October. The study on “gender equality as a prerequisite for sustainable development”, says women globally live in a more sustainable way then men and leave a smaller ecological footprint and cause less climate change. It finds that ten per cent of car drivers, primarily men, account for 60 per cent of passenger kilometres. See foreign ministry report.

The purpose of the study is to bring out often neglected facts concerning dissimilarities in the lifestyles and consumption patterns of women and men, and thus in their environmental impact, by describing how men, primarily through their greater mobility and more extensive travel, acoount for more carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than women, in both rich and poor countries. The study points to how a changed behavior among men – notably rich men who are decision makers – can be crucial in addressing climate change and in enhancing the opportunities of all human beings to enjoy sustainable development.