The Oxfam International and the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) have jointly released a report on “Confronting Carbon Inequality”. This report enlightens the fact that a wealthy person contributes higher to the climate crisis than someone living in poverty. Oxfam is an eminent global organization that works across 20 countries with a common objective to eradicate poverty. SEI, on the other hand, is an internationally recognised non-profit research and policy organisation aiming to promote sustainability in policy making.
Data Analysis of Cumulative Emissions from 1990-2015
The report divulges some significant data derived from a study conducted spanning 25 years. According to the report, the richest 1% of the world contributed to 15% of cumulative emissions, while the poorest half accounted for just 7%.
Depletion of the Global Carbon Budget
The global carbon budget is described as the permitted cumulative amount of CO2 emissions over a particular period to avoid exceeding a certain temperature threshold. The report finds that the richest 10% used up 31% of this budget, whereas the bottom 50% consumed only 4%. The growth of emissions was also found to be skewed, with the wealthiest 10% responsible for 46% of the growth, but the poorest 50% for only 6%.
Emissions Comparison: India vs Other Countries
The report further compares the CO2 emissions of India with those of other countries. It states that an Indian citizen releases an annual average of 1.97 tonnes of CO2, while Americans and Canadians emit more than 16 tonnes. Moreover, the CO2 emissions per capita of the richest 10% of Indians were around 4.4 tonnes in 2018, as opposed to the richest 10% Americans, who were responsible for 52.4 tonnes of emissions.
Highlighted Concerns
The report highlights the rapid depletion of the global carbon budget, primarily due to overconsumption by the rich. It acknowledges the intersectionality of income inequality and climate crisis, associating it with race, class, gender, caste, and age. The largest proportion of emissions by the wealthy has been linked to luxury transportation such as private flights and high-end cars. Also, men are found to have higher earnings than women, resulting in higher spending and more travels, further contributing to higher emissions.
Suggestions for Change
The report presents several suggestions to mitigate the situation. It calls for systemic change rather than individual actions, significant clipping of emissions from the richest 10%, and reduction of per capita footprint to conform with 1.5°C-consistent levels by 2030.
The Green New Deal and UNCTAD’s Call for Action
It also supports comprehensive approaches like the Green New Deal, popularised in the USA in 2018, coupling renewable energy goals with full access to healthcare and guaranteed wages. Similar sentiments were echoed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2019, urging for a global iteration of the Green New Deal led by the public sector. They also suggest wealth redistribution through taxation of the wealthiest, large-scale public investments in clean energy, and the creation of a social safety net through measures like job guarantee programs and universal healthcare.
Going Forward
The findings explain the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which acknowledges the varying roles states play in global environmental destruction. The direct correlation between developmental levels and contribution to the degradation of global resources like water and air is elaborated. Therefore, more developed countries, which have enjoyed longer periods of unimpeded development, are now called upon to bear a greater share of the responsibility.
