According to research from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, the carbon footprint of the rich is much higher than that of the poor, and their share of global carbon emissions continues to increase.
The richest 10% of the population emit 49% of global greenhouse gases
The study, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, found that in 2010, the richest 10% of households accounted for 34% of global carbon dioxide emissions, while the lowest-income groups, representing 50% of the population, contributed only 15%. By 2015, the richest 10% of the population was responsible for 49% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while the poorest 50% accounted for only 7%.
Aimee Ambrose, a professor of energy policy at Sheffield Hallam University and one of the study's authors, said reducing the carbon footprint of the wealthy could be the fastest way to achieve net zero emissions.
In the UK, the bottom 50% of the population accounts for less than 20% of final energy demand, which is less than the consumption of the top 5%. While the products used in the homes of the wealthy may be more energy efficient, they may also need to heat larger spaces and are more likely to own and use more luxury goods and other items.
Living below their means may lead middle- to low-income Britons to travel less and use less fuel, leading to lower carbon emissions, Ambrose said. High-spending groups are less likely to be constrained by their livelihoods.
“For wealthy individuals, the added cost of these pastimes is insignificant, so they don’t change their behavior,” Ambrose said. “Unlike lower-income individuals, wealthy individuals won’t turn down the thermostat to save electricity, nor will they forgo long-haul flights for sunny vacations.”
In most countries and regions, before the COVID-19 outbreak, less than half of people said they flew at least once a year, while more than half of passenger aircraft carbon emissions came from the top 1% of frequent flyers.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/233341)
