Data from a new study has shown that the difference between the carbon emissions of the rich and the poor within a country is now greater than the differences in emissions between countries.
Titled Climate Inequality Report 2023 and done by economists from the World Inequality Lab which dissect where carbon emissions are currently coming, the report found that
carbon inequalities within countries now appear to be greater than carbon inequalities between countries.
The finding gives credibility to the argument that a growing divide exist between the “polluting elite” of rich people around the world, and the relatively low responsibility for emissions among the rest of the population.
The analysis also showed that there is plenty of room for the poorest in the world to increase their greenhouse gas emissions if needed to reach prosperity, if rich people globally reduce theirs.
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Many extant global climate policy are hinged on the difference between developed and developing countries and their current and historic responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions.
However, a growing body of work suggests that a “polluting elite” of those on the highest incomes globally are vastly outweighing the emissions of the poor.
The implication of this for climate action is that people on low incomes within developed countries are contributing less to the climate crisis, while rich people in developing countries have much bigger carbon footprints than was previously acknowledged.
It found that the consumption and investment patterns of a relatively small group of the population directly or indirectly contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gases.
While cross-country emission inequalities remain sizeable, overall inequality in global emissions is now mostly explained by within-country inequalities by some indicators.”
The report also found that overseas climate aid would help developing countries reduce their emissions, but developing countries also needed to reform their domestic tax systems to redistribute more from the wealthy.
The authors suggest windfall taxes on excess profits could help to fund low-carbon investment, as well as progressive taxation in countries, including developing countries, which often under-tax rich citizens and companies.
The report showed that large emerging economies now bear an increasing responsibility for the stock of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and they must now produce clear plans on reaching net zero emissions.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
