Do you think that the social status of people in society has an effect on pollution?

Question

For example, Do poor people pollute more than rich people and if you think they do then why? ( possibilities I am considering are lack of knowledge, lack of money to buy more efficient and energy conserving technology, etc)

Answer 1

Poor people may throw trash in the streets, and rich people pollute the air and water with their factories so no, I don't think there is a difference. To a rich person throwing something down on the sidewalk may be acceptable because there are lower paid garbage men to pick it up, to a poor person throwing trash in the street doesn't make a difference because it's a ghetto and who cares. I would say they both pollute the same. Your question ought to be "which pollution is worse?"

Answer 2

The poor would use more mass transit and possibly practice more sharing of available vehicles, thus reducing pollution. Poverty doesn't support much consuming, so there's some sparing of the environment there.

These things aren't said of the rich, plus the rich can contribute financial support to any polluting business or corporation their heart desires... We see this on the national level, with richer nations leading the way to environmental ruin.

Answer 3

Most of the pollution that results from your life style is not done directly, but as a bi-product in the production of the things you use. In general the more you consume the more you pollute , and the richer you are the more you consume. Being conscientious about your consumption habits may alter this relationship somewhat, but most rich people are not consistently careful. They may drive a hybrid car, but will sill fly half way around the world on vacation, or dine on fresh food flown in from distant locations.

Answer 4

Since many more people of lower socio-economic groups drive older cars, and older cars pollute more than newer ones, then YES. People in lower socio-economic groups also smoke more than more educated higher socio-economic groups, then yes.

Across the street from my house is a house occupied by a bunch of lower socio-economic guys. These guys burn wood in the fireplace for heat. I am very glad the prevailing winds blow south to north and west to east. Otherwise we'd have a house filled with pollution. Those guys really pollute the air when it is cold. They could use the electric baseboard heaters in the house, but they choose to burn wood and pollute with smoke.

These guys drive old, klunker cars that pollute more than our newer cars.

My husband and I use the fireplace, but when burn bans are in place we use our baseboard electric heat or just bundle up. The guys across the street don't give a hoot.

Answer 5

I seriously doubt there is a high correlation between social status and polluting. Folks of all socioeconomic levels have equal access to information these day and similar motivation or lack of motivation to behave in an environmentally manner.

Answer 6

hmmm u probly gonna get diff answers cause its sorta opinion.. i think that a por person would not pollute more because he tries to save the stuff that he can acually afford.. eat all of the food they have dont throw any away, but a rich person will probly be more likely to pollute because they will be able to afford these things

Answer 7

I say upper class people do it more. They all have to have the biggest car, the tallest building, the biggest yaht.
if all the people with money would invest in hybrid instead of thoose damn hummers, it would save the environment.