Is there a normal amount of Carbon Footprint?

How does the amount of income a person makes have any effect on the carbon footprint that person has?

• I don't get it. When you calculate your carbon footprint, you consider things like the number of miles you drive to places within a year, and how much electricity that you uses which I agree with. But, then it seems that you're also supposed to consider your household income when calculating your carbon footprint, which doesn't make any sense to me. How does the amount of money you make have an effect on the amount of greenhouse gases that you, as an individual, produce? Maybe greenhouse gases were expelled in the process of you making your money, but wouldn't that factor in the carbon footprint of whoever was your source of income instead?

• Answer:

  a very poor person does not use much fossil fuel. Walks, bicycles, uses firewood. a very rich person can use renewable energy: solar electric panels, wind generators, hybrid cars, solar charged electric cars, solar heated houses, use sail boats. those in the middle have to use a lot of fossil fuel to live and travel.