A new paper by more than 20 scientists from 13 different countries has analysed existing research on climate change, global warming and environmental collapse and how they connect with what men do, finding that consumption patterns and industry involvement rather than inherent gender characteristics drive differences in environmental impact, raising questions about whether policy interventions should target individual behavior or focus on economic sectors and market mechanisms.
Published in Norma: International Journal for Masculinity Studies, the paper is titled 'Men, masculinities and the planet at the end of (M)Anthropocene'. It covers questions as diverse as climate denial in Canadian pipeline politics, environmental impacts of Chinese policies in the Pacific Ocean, pro-meat online influencers in Finland, and positive action by men activists in Africa, Latin America, the UK and globally.
Consumption and Transportation Patterns
Researchers found that men tend to have a greater carbon footprint and greater environmental impact through consumption, especially in travel, transportation, tourism and meat eating. The article cited a 2025 study one year ago involving 15,000 people in France that found men emit 26 per cent more pollution than women from transport and food. The data reflects consumer choices in sectors where market preferences and economic factors drive behavior, rather than suggesting that regulatory intervention targeting specific demographic groups would be effective or appropriate.
Behavioral Differences and Policy Concerns
The team also warned that men tend to have "less concern with climate change," are "less ambitious and less active in environmental politics," and are less willing to change everyday practices to tackle the growing issue. A study one year ago published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that men with higher levels of "masculinity stress" express less worry about climate change and are more likely to exhibit pro-environmental behavioural avoidance, such as avoiding eco-friendly products to maintain a traditional masculine image.
Industry and Economic Sectors
Men also tend to be more involved in owning, managing and controlling heavy, chemical, carbon-based, industrialised industries such as agriculture, along with other high environmental impact and extractive industries, and militarism, the paper said. The concentration in these sectors reflects employment patterns and economic roles in industries that provide essential goods, energy, and national security capabilities, complicating efforts to reduce emissions without addressing broader economic structures and energy needs.
Academic Perspective and Policy Gaps
Professor Jeff Hearn, the paper's editor and a professor of Sociology at the University of Huddersfield, said, "There is now plenty of research that shows clear negative impacts of some men's behaviour on the environment and climate," and added, "What is astonishing is how this aspect does not figure in most debates and policy in a more sustainable world."
Socioeconomic Distinctions
The researchers said these "damaging patterns" apply especially to elite, white Eurowestern men opposed to low-income men in the global south, while also acknowledging that some men are working "urgently and energetically" to change these tendencies. The distinction between elite consumption patterns and those of lower-income populations suggests that wealth and economic development, rather than demographic characteristics alone, drive environmental impact.
Why This Matters:
The research identifies consumption patterns concentrated in transportation, food choices, and employment in carbon-intensive industries as key drivers of emissions differences, but the findings raise fundamental questions about whether government policies should target demographic groups or focus on market-based solutions and technological innovation in high-impact sectors. The concentration of men in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and defense reflects economic structures that provide essential goods and services, suggesting that emissions reduction efforts must balance environmental goals with economic productivity and national security requirements. The acknowledgment that "some men are working urgently and energetically" to change these tendencies indicates that individual initiative and market innovation may be more effective than regulatory mandates targeting behavioral change. The distinction between elite consumption in developed nations and patterns in the global south underscores that economic development and wealth creation, not demographic targeting, remain the primary factors in environmental impact, suggesting that policy should focus on technological solutions and economic incentives rather than social engineering.