The richest one per cent of the world’s population produces double the carbon emission of the poorest 50 per cent combined, according to the UN.
And the so-called ‘polluter elite‘ of the wealthiest 5 per cent have contributed to 37 per cent of the growth in emissions from 1990–2015, experts have calculated.
This disparity in pollution is highlighted by a recent report from the UK-based Cambridge Sustainability Commission on Scaling Behaviour Change.
The document was compiled by 31 environmental impact experts tasked with exploring ways to best scale up actions to tackle carbon emissions.
Actions suggested by the panel include deterring people from frequent flying and driving SUVs — as well as convincing the wealthy to better insulate their homes.
To this end, the report has urged the UK Government to reinstate air passenger duty on UK return flights and the recently-scrapped Green Homes Grant scheme.
The report adds to the on-going debate about ‘equality’ in tackling climate change.
Poorer nations with smaller emissions budgets — such have India — have long argued that they should be allowed to pollute more on the scale of wealthier nations.
The richest one per cent of the population produces twice the carbon emission of the poorest 50 per cent , according to the UN. A new report wants to tackle frequent fliers, pictured
Critics of the report’s findings have suggested that emissions would be better cut by means of technological advances — not unpopular restrictions.
‘It’s right to emphasise the importance of fairness in delivering [emissions cuts]’, Conservative Environment Network director Sam Hall told BBC News.
‘Policy could make it easier for people and businesses to go green — through incentives, targeted regulation and nudges.’
‘But encouraging clean technologies is likely to be more effective, and more likely to enjoy public consent, than hefty penalties or lifestyle restrictions.’
‘We are totally in favour of technology improvements and more efficient products but it’s clear that more drastic action is needed because emissions keep going up,’ report lead author Peter Newell told BBC News.
‘We have got to cut over-consumption and the best place to start is over-consumption among the polluting elites who contribute by far more than their share of carbon emissions,’ the University of Sussex international relations expert added.
‘These are people who fly most, drive the biggest cars most and live in the biggest homes which they can easily afford to heat, so they tend not to worry if they’re well insulated or not.’
‘They’re also the sort of people who could really afford good insulation and solar panels if they wanted to.’
Actions suggested by the panel include deterring people from frequent flying and driving SUVs (as pictured) — as well as convincing the wealthy to better insulate their homes
To effectively combat climate change, Professor Newell said, people need to feel that they are part of a collective effort — meaning that the rich and super-rich need to consume less in order to set an example to those who are less well-off.
‘Rich people who fly a lot may think they can offset their emissions by tree-planting schemes or projects to capture carbon from the air,’ Professor Newell told the BBC.
‘But these schemes are highly contentious and they’re not proven over time.’
According to Professor Newell, wealthy individuals and firms are presently well-placed to lobby against any action to combat climate change that might impinge on the lifestyles of the rich.
However, he added, the wealthy, he added, ‘simply must fly less and drive less.’
‘Even if they own an electric SUV that’s still a drain on the energy system and all the emissions created making the vehicle in the first place.’
The full report was published on the Rapid Transition Alliance website.
