Improving life conditions for humans has been linked to increased carbon emissions.
Professor Andrew Jorgenson’s research measured the carbon intensity of human well-being (CIWB) by using the ratio between per capita carbon dioxide emissions and average life expectancy at birth — for 106 countries over the period 1970–2009.
The largest CIWB was found to be in North America, Europe and Oceania, but generally increased across the board.
Jorgenson says that as long as societies rely on fossil fuels, achieving better life conditions will drive up carbon emissions worldwide.
Read more at University of Utah