Disparities in carbon emissions across households: insights from daily diet

This study examines household food carbon emissions in rural China, focusing on the inequality of these emissions and the influence of household characteristics on their variation. Our findings indicate that the average food consumption per rural household is 1031.66 kg. Among all food types, pork contributes the highest share of carbon emissions at 39.75%, followed by beef and mutton at 15.14%, while milk accounts for the lowest share at just 1.38%. Additionally, as household income increases, both food consumption and associated carbon emissions rise accordingly. The food-related carbon emissions tend to be higher in households that are more educated, younger, and larger in size. There are notable regional and income disparities in rural food-related carbon emissions. The regional inequalities appear primarily driven by interactions between different regions, while income inequality is influenced by both intra-group disparities and overlaps among income groups. The results from our threshold regression suggest that carbon emissions are particularly elevated in households where the head has a college-level education or higher, is aged between 32.80 and 33.25 years, and has a household size of three to five members. It is essential to develop and implement flexible policies aimed at reducing the consumption of high-carbon foods. By taking these steps, we can work toward a more sustainable future and promote greater equity in food-related carbon emissions.