Rich people emit more CO₂: study reveals worrying gap

Rich people emit more CO₂: study reveals worrying gap

The current research results illustrate the complex connections between social inequality and CO₂ emissions. A study conducted by a team from the University of Konstanz, the Paris School of Economics and the Center for Research on Social Inequalities at Sciences Po Paris shows that the richest ten percent of the world's population are responsible for around half of global greenhouse gas emissions. This raises questions about the justified distribution of responsibility and burdens in the context of the climate crisis. More than 1,300 participants in the Konstanzer Life study made it clear that there is a broad consensus that wealthier groups emit more CO₂ than less wealthy groups. Respondents expressed a desire for a lower carbon footprint for wealthier groups, which is referred to as the “carbon perception gap.”

This perception gap is made up of three elements: First, the realistic assessment of the status quo that wealthy people cause more CO₂. Second, the desire for reverse distribution that rich should reduce climate emissions. Thirdly, the self-perception of many that their own carbon footprint is better than that of others in their wealth group. The study, conducted in spring 2023, offers valuable insights for climate policy communication and action as it shows that there is a broad consensus among respondents that something needs to change.

The influence of social inequality on the climate

Research on social inequalities and their influence on the climate crisis is extensive. In another study published in Nature Communications, it is pointed out that social and economic inequalities promote CO₂-intensive modes of consumption and production. Inequalities allow wealthy individuals to influence political decisions that, in turn, hinder climate protection. An example of this is the status competition, which also encourages poorer sections of the population to overconsume, which further increases emissions.

The study discusses a total of ten mechanisms through which inequality exacerbates climate change. These include, among other things, that high incomes lead to higher consumption and thus higher emissions, and that people with low incomes often do not have access to energy-efficient technologies. These aspects undermine public support for climate protection and weaken social cohesion.

Political Action and the Green New Deal

The study shows that comprehensive climate protection strategies cannot be viewed in isolation. The Green New Deal is described as a transformative measure that includes not only environmental and climate protection, but also social, economic and democratic reforms. These concepts could promote the fight against climate change by aiming for a universal supply of goods to meet basic needs while reducing economic inequalities.

A current example from Europe is the Spanish Socialist Party, which expanded its majority through the implementation of a Green New Deal program. Such initiatives show how climate policy measures can be embedded in a broader social context to address both environmental and social challenges.

The potential for a more equitable distribution of responsibility and the need to place these issues at the center of future climate debates is increasingly being recognized. The results of the Konstanz study and additional research findings make it clear that combating global warming also requires addressing inequality.