--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Environmental pollution is a regressive…" description: "\"“Environmental pollution is a regressive phenomenon, since the rich can find ways of insulating themselves from bad air, dirty water, loss of green spa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/guy-standing-4017_air-conditioning_environmental-pollution-is-a-regressive_3227945.jpg" --- # Environmental pollution is a regressive phenomenon, since… ![“Environmental pollution is a regressive phenomenon, since the rich can find ways of insulating themselves from bad air, dirty water, loss of green spaces and so on. Moreover, much pollution results from production and activities that benefit the more affluent – air transport, car ownership, air…” quote by Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/guy-standing-4017_air-conditioning_environmental-pollution-is-a-regressive_3227945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/guy-standing-4017_air-conditioning_environmental-pollution-is-a-regressive_3227945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/guy-standing-4017_air-conditioning_environmental-pollution-is-a-regressive_3227945.jpg) > ““Environmental pollution is a regressive phenomenon, since the rich can find ways of insulating themselves from bad air, dirty water, loss of green spaces and so on. Moreover, much pollution results from production and activities that benefit the more affluent – air transport, car ownership, air conditioning, consumer goods of all kinds, to take some obvious examples. A basic income could be construed, in part, as partial compensation for pollution costs imposed on us, as a matter of social justice. Conversely, a basic income could be seen as compensation for those adversely affected by environmental protection measures. A basic income would make it easier for governments to impose taxes on polluting activities that might affect livelihoods or have a regressive impact by raising prices for goods bought by low-income households. For instance, hefty carbon taxes would deter fossil fuel use and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change as well as reduce air pollution. Introducing a carbon tax would surely be easier politically if the tax take went towards providing a basic income that would compensate those on low incomes, miners and others who would lose income-earning opportunities. The basic income case is especially strong in relation to the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. Across the world, in rich countries and in poor, governments have long used subsidies as a way of reducing poverty, by keeping down the price of fuel. This has encouraged more consumption, and more wasteful use, of fossil fuels. Moreover, fuel subsidies are regressive, since the rich consume more and thus gain more from the subsidies. But governments have been reluctant to reduce or eliminate the subsidies for fear of alienating voters. Indeed, a number of countries that have tried to reduce fuel subsidies have backed down in the face of angry popular demonstrations.”” [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A basic income can offset the regressive impacts of pollution and climate policies, linking social justice with environmental action. **In simple terms:** Basic income helps the poor bear environmental costs. Key Takeaway Implement basic income alongside green taxes. Themes social justice environment economics policy inequality Mood analytical urgent Type policy economic When to use this quote - low‑income households - government budgeting - carbon pricing - public health Key Concepts progressive taxation universal basic income externalities climate mitigation Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure fair distribution? - How to balance economic growth with equity? A Different Perspective Political resistance may stall reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air conditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-conditioning/) [Air pollution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-pollution/) [Carbon tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon-tax/) [Carbon Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon-taxes-1845583/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Dirty water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-water/) [Environmental protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-protection/) [Fossil fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuel/) [Pollution Regressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pollution-regressive-6094846/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Subsidies Regressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidies-regressive-6094847/) [Taxes Polluting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes-polluting-6094848/) ## Related quotes > [“We must rein in temperature increases and help ensure that the most vulnerable can adapt. But today’s popular climate change policies of rolling out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjorn-lomborg/we-must-rein-in-temperature-increases-and-help-ensure-that-the-most/) [Bjorn Lomborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjorn-lomborg/) > [Climate change might be disastrous, but does that mean we want carbon taxes that raise the price of a gallon of heating oil to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/climate-change-might-be-disastrous-but-does-that-mean-we-want-carbon/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Preventing global warming from becoming a planetary catastrophe may take something even more drastic than renewable energy, superefficient urban design, and global carbon taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/preventing-global-warming-from-becoming-a-planetary-catastrophe-may/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [I kind of like carbon taxes because we already know how to apply them. We already have apparatus in place. When we talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/i-kind-of-like-carbon-taxes-because-we-already-know-how-to-apply-them/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [hy is it you can impose a new tax and keep your economy growing? Only if you cut other taxes by exactly the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-clark/hy-is-it-you-can-impose-a-new-tax-and-keep-your-economy-growing-only/) [Christy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-clark/) > [We need to use economic instruments such as carbon taxes, cap and trade, tax and dividend and whatever else to help incentivize behavior that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/we-need-to-use-economic-instruments-such-as-carbon-taxes-cap-and/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [Many scientists and economists also say putting a price on carbon through carbon taxes and/or cap-and-trade is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/many-scientists-and-economists-also-say-putting-a-price-on-carbon/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The marginal tax rate for high income earners is going up. Small businesses are no longer enjoying some of the exemption from payroll tax.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/the-marginal-tax-rate-for-high-income-earners-is-going-up-small/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [Some solutions are relatively simple and would provide economic benefits: implementing measures to conserve energy, putting a price on carbon through taxes and cap-and-trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/some-solutions-are-relatively-simple-and-would-provide-economic/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Where does rain come from? It comes from all the dirty water that evaporates from the earth, like urine and the water you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/where-does-rain-come-from-it-comes-from-all-the-dirty-water-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We have to learn how to come out of unclean situations cleaner than we were, and even how to wash ourselves with dirty water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-have-to-learn-how-to-come-out-of-unclean-situations-cleaner-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [To pursue truth with such astonishing lack of consideration for other people's feelings, to rend the think veils of civilisation so wantonly, so brutally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/to-pursue-truth-with-such-astonishing-lack-of-consideration-for-other/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“He wanted to be better than what he was made of. In Mumbai's dirty water, he wanted to be ice...He wanted to be recognized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/he-wanted-to-be-better-than-what-he-was-made-of-in-mumbai-s-dirty/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“I'm tired of drinking dirty water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-t-hincks/i-m-tired-of-drinking-dirty-water/) [Anthony T. Hincks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-t-hincks/) > [“He looks about the room at the few sticks of furniture, at the dirty bed sheets and the wash basin with the dirty water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/he-looks-about-the-room-at-the-few-sticks-of-furniture-at-the-dirty/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) ## More by Guy Standing > [“The ethical and philosophical justifications for basic income – social justice, freedom and economic security – have been well established. They are embedded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/the-ethical-and-philosophical-justifications-for-basic-income-social/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [What we can say with confidence is that the technological revolution is worsening inequality, due mostly to mechanisms that limit free markets. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/what-we-can-say-with-confidence-is-that-the-technological-revolution/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“While there are reasons to be sceptical about the predicted technological dystopia that has prompted many high-tech plutocrats to come out in support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/while-there-are-reasons-to-be-sceptical-about-the-predicted/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“Selective paternalism, for those on low incomes or for other groups needing state assistance, is perhaps even worse than general paternalism, since the minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/selective-paternalism-for-those-on-low-incomes-or-for-other-groups/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [A democratically governed national fracking fund should be set up, perhaps similar to what Norway and Alaska have. Areas of drilling should be rented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/a-democratically-governed-national-fracking-fund-should-be-set-up/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [Many low-income people in the U.S.A. charged with a crime opt to plead guilty to a lesser offence because they cannot afford to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/many-low-income-people-in-the-u-s-a-charged-with-a-crime-opt-to-plead/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [People in the precariat rely very heavily on money wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/people-in-the-precariat-rely-very-heavily-on-money-wages/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“Ironically, opponents of basic income on the grounds that it would lead to a dismantling of the welfare state tend to support some variant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/ironically-opponents-of-basic-income-on-the-grounds-that-it-would/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [Globalisation began what should be called the Great Convergence, creating a globalising labour market in which wages in emerging market economies slowly converge with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/globalisation-began-what-should-be-called-the-great-convergence/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“Although reducing poverty, economic insecurity, malnutrition and ill-health should be the primary driving forces, an additional factor is the stress being placed on societies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/although-reducing-poverty-economic-insecurity-malnutrition-and-ill/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“The first basic income pilot in a developing country was implemented in the small Namibian village of Otjivero-Omitara in 2008–9, covering about 1,000 people.40…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/the-first-basic-income-pilot-in-a-developing-country-was-implemented/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“Leaving aside instrumental reasons for supporting a basic income, the thrill lies in the potential to advance full freedom and social justice, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/leaving-aside-instrumental-reasons-for-supporting-a-basic-income-the/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“Reformers must be able to pre-empt the expected jibes over lack of ‘reciprocity’, affordability, inducement to laziness, ‘something for nothing’ and cash for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/reformers-must-be-able-to-pre-empt-the-expected-jibes-over-lack-of/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [“The importance of ethical governance, exemplified by the Norwegian Pension Fund, is highlighted by a deplorable UK government proposal in 2016 to set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/the-importance-of-ethical-governance-exemplified-by-the-norwegian/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [If the scale of gas is anything like the claims made by its advocates, it has major implications for the economy and British society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/if-the-scale-of-gas-is-anything-like-the-claims-made-by-its-advocates/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) [Explore all 117 Guy Standing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) ## More Air conditioning quotes > [Life's Highs... 1. Laughing hysterically 2. Dancing your heart out 3. Star gazing 4. Shopping 5. Going to the beach 6. Listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-s-highs-1-laughing-hysterically-2-dancing-your-heart-out-3-star/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“I remember hearing years ago about a centenarian being interviewed on her birthday. She was asked, “Throughout your life, you have witnessed amazing change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/i-remember-hearing-years-ago-about-a-centenarian-being-interviewed-on/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Having played many roles of scientific intellect I do have an empathy for that world. It's been hard on me because flying the Enterprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/having-played-many-roles-of-scientific-intellect-i-do-have-an-empathy/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [A true fascist is anyone who wants to take away my air conditioning or force me to ride a bike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/a-true-fascist-is-anyone-who-wants-to-take-away-my-air-conditioning/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [Developed and benefited from the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption which have produced our present dilemma. It is clear that current lifestyles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/developed-and-benefited-from-the-unsustainable-patterns-of-production/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [I do hate air conditioning and early mornings, but my friends all know this and plan accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-radziwill/i-do-hate-air-conditioning-and-early-mornings-but-my-friends-all-know/) [Carole Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-radziwill/) > [The congressional tradition of escaping the nation's capital in August dates back to the time before air conditioning when Senators would race home before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-hyde-smith/the-congressional-tradition-of-escaping-the-nation-s-capital-in/) [Cindy Hyde-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-hyde-smith/) > [I have an idea for sweatshops: air conditioning! That's simple. 14 year old boys working twelve hour days? "Yeah, but they're comfortable!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-an-idea-for-sweatshops-air-conditioning-that-s-simple-14-year/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Forests ... are in fact the world's air-conditioning system-the very lungs of the planet-and help to store the largest body of freshwater on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/forests-are-in-fact-the-world-s-air-conditioning-system-the-very/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“Now I know what development means: air-conditioning. With air-conditioning, we can have civilization, which exists only in temperate climates. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-chua/now-i-know-what-development-means-air-conditioning-with-air/) [Lawrence Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-chua/) > [We called the Weather Bureau and found out what historically was the hottest day of the summer...So we scheduled the hearing that day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wirth/we-called-the-weather-bureau-and-found-out-what-historically-was-the/) [Tim Wirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wirth/) > [America is a great country. I've been in the south, in the center and in the north. I like it. Americans are very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-balotelli/america-is-a-great-country-i-ve-been-in-the-south-in-the-center-and/) [Mario Balotelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-balotelli/) > [My husband is in charge of all phone, email and texting duties at home. He even has to turn on the TV and air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becki-newton/my-husband-is-in-charge-of-all-phone-email-and-texting-duties-at-home/) [Becki Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becki-newton/) > [The American house has been TV-centered for three generations. It is the focus of family life, and the life of the house correspondingly turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/the-american-house-has-been-tv-centered-for-three-generations-it-is/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [“God…is the air conditioning in here broken? What’s the deal? It’s hotter than Satan’s nutsack. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyla-madi/god-is-the-air-conditioning-in-here-broken-what-s-the-deal-it-s/) [Skyla Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyla-madi/) [Browse all 117 Air conditioning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-conditioning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Environmental pollution is a regressive phenomenon, since the rich can find ways of insulating themselves from bad air, dirty water, loss of green spaces and so on. Moreover, much pollution results from production and activities that benefit the more affluent – air transport, car ownership, air conditioning, consumer goods of all kinds, to take some obvious examples. A basic income could be construed, in part, as partial compensation for pollution costs imposed on us, as a matter of social justice. Conversely, a basic income could be seen as compensation for those adversely affected by environmental protection measures. A basic income would make it easier for governments to impose taxes on polluting activities that might affect livelihoods or have a regressive impact by raising prices for goods bought by low-income households. For instance, hefty carbon taxes would deter fossil fuel use and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change as well as reduce air pollution. Introducing a carbon tax would surely be easier politically if the tax take went towards providing a basic income that would compensate those on low incomes, miners and others who would lose income-earning opportunities. The basic income case is especially strong in relation to the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. Across the world, in rich countries and in poor, governments have long used subsidies as a way of reducing poverty, by keeping down the price of fuel. This has encouraged more consumption, and more wasteful use, of fossil fuels. 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