'Red meat and cars': French men’s carbon footprint 26% higher than women's, study finds

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new study by the Grantham Research Institute (LSE) and CREST finds that men in France have a 26% higher carbon footprint than women, largely due to greater red meat consumption and car usage
• Based on data from over 2,000 car models and food products, the study highlights how gendered lifestyle choices influence emissions, with food and transport sectors showing the starkest gaps

🔭 The context: The analysis, based on French household data, suggests traditional gender norms and household roles significantly shape individual carbon footprints
• Men’s higher car use — especially for work-related travel — and red meat-heavy diets are key drivers. Conversely, women are more likely to live in cities, work less, or have shorter commutes — factors associated with lower emissions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With food and transport making up 50% of household carbon emissions in France, tackling gendered consumption patterns offers a new lens for climate policy
• Red meat and private vehicle use remain two of the most carbon-intensive habits globally
• Addressing lifestyle and cultural norms could help close the gender gap and reduce overall emissions

⏭️ What's next: The findings point to the need for gender-aware climate policies that account for divergent lifestyle patterns
• Strategies might include targeting red meat-heavy diets marketed to men or designing transport policies that better align with work-life structures
• Further research is needed to understand if lower female emissions stem from environmental awareness or structural factors such as income and location

💬 One quote: “Traditional gender norms, particularly those linking masculinity with red meat consumption and car use, play a significant role in shaping individual carbon footprints.” — Marion Leroutier, Assistant Professor, CREST

📈 One stat: Men in France produce an average 5.3 tonnes of CO₂ annually from food and transport, compared to 3.9 tonnes for women

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