A new study in France shows that men produce more greenhouse gases than women. The study, which included 15,000 people, found that men emit 26% more pollution than women through food and transport. Even after adjusting for income, education, and calorie needs, men still emit 18% more than women.
This difference is mainly due to two habits: more driving and higher red meat consumption. The study sheds light on how gender norms shape these behaviors and how they affect the environment.
Key Findings of the Study
The study looked at the greenhouse gas emissions of men and women in France. It found that men’s carbon footprint is bigger than women’s because of their habits. Men drive more and eat more meat. These habits contribute to their higher emissions.
When looking at the remaining difference of 6.5–9.5%, the study found that most of it comes from these two habits. Surprisingly, air travel did not play a role in the emissions gap. This suggests that habits related to food and transport are the main causes.
How Gender Norms Affect Behavior
The study’s authors say that gender stereotypes are behind many of these behaviors. Driving and eating meat are often seen as masculine activities. According to Ondine Berland from the London School of Economics, these stereotypes influence men’s choices and increase their carbon footprint.
“Eating meat and driving are linked to masculinity. These norms push men to make choices that harm the environment,” Berland explained.
Marion Leroutier, an environmental economist and co-author of the study, also found that the emissions gap between men and women is similar to the gap between wealthy and low-income people. This shows how deeply cultural values shape personal habits.
Why Men Resist Lifestyle Changes
Reducing personal emissions often requires giving up petrol cars, eating less meat, and flying less. But many men resist these changes. Public figures often mock men who adopt plant-based diets, calling them “soy boys” or other insulting names. This criticism paints sustainable choices as weak or unmanly.
Ironically, much of the soy produced worldwide is used to feed livestock, not vegans. This contradiction often goes unnoticed in the debate about plant-based diets.
The researchers believe that this cultural resistance helps explain why men are less likely to worry about climate change. Because making sustainable choices challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, many men avoid confronting the reality of the climate crisis.
Why Women Are More Likely to Act
The study also found that women are more likely to care about climate change. Women tend to take more action to reduce their emissions. This could be because men feel that reducing emissions affects their identity more directly. In contrast, women may feel more free to make sustainable choices without facing as much criticism.
Marion Leroutier suggested that women’s higher concern for the environment may come from their greater awareness of climate issues. “We need more research to understand how concern for the environment turns into action,” she said.
The Need for Cultural Change
The study suggests that a cultural shift could help lower emissions. Breaking down gender stereotypes about driving and eating meat could encourage more men to reduce their carbon footprint.
Public campaigns could help. Instead of focusing on gender, campaigns could emphasize the environmental and health benefits of sustainable habits. This would help men see that adopting greener habits is not about being weak or unmanly but about protecting the planet.
The Bigger Picture: Tackling Global Emissions
While this study focuses on France, it is part of a larger global issue: reducing emissions. To combat climate change, people around the world need to lower their carbon footprints. The study shows that gender-based habits contribute to the problem. Addressing these habits is one way to make a big difference.
Researchers hope that by understanding why men and women have different emissions, they can find better ways to encourage sustainable behaviors. Changing personal habits, such as driving less and eating less meat, is essential to reducing emissions.
The study in France shows that men’s habits, shaped by traditional gender norms, result in higher emissions than women’s. Men’s love for driving and red meat contributes to this gap. Changing these habits could help lower emissions and protect the environment. For this to happen, society must challenge stereotypes and encourage everyone, regardless of gender, to make more sustainable choices.
As the world works to tackle the climate crisis, cultural shifts are just as important as technological solutions. We need to rethink how our personal behaviors impact the planet and find ways to live more sustainably.