4 June 2024 – Tackling the climate crisis will cost a huge amount of money. And given that the rich are responsible for more greenhouse gases than the poor, it’s a valid question to ask if they should pay more.
We know that the richest 1% in the world are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the 66% poorest. Yet, the poorest are most impacted by climate change.
This climate inequality leads many to call for the rich to pay more to fund the action against climate change.
Consumption Fuels Emissions
The carbon footprint is calculated by several measures, including consumption. The more we consume, the more emissions are we responsible for.
So it’s no surprise that the richest people in the world have the biggest carbon footprint. And it’s not just individuals. The richer a country, the more emissions it produces.
As a result, the big economies, such as the US, China, EU and UK, are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. Bigger businesses also account for more emissions than smaller ones.
As this fact becomes clear, more and more countries agree that some sort of global wealth tax is needed to fund measures to stop climate change.
What exactly this levy will look like is still unclear though. However, there are ideas that are floating around. They aim at those who have the biggest impact on emissions.
Taxes or levies on international shipping and fossil fuels are among the ideas brought up. One of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement from 2015 and co-chair of the International Tax Task Force (ITTF), Laurence Tubiana, suggested adding a levy for frequent flyers, targeting business class and first class.
This would ensure that the richest people, who are responsible for more emissions, carry the heaviest burden, which is a fairer approach.
If you want to avoid a real conflict, we have to put the social justice element upfront.
Laurence Tubiana, Co-Chair of ITTF
Domestic Transport Emits Most Emissions In UK
According to government figures, domestic transport is responsible for 29% of the UK’s emissions. This makes this sector the biggest emitter.
So it’s no surprise that the idea of a levy for frequent fliers is also discussed in the UK. Research by the IPPR, a left-leaning think tank, has shown that 1% of the richest people in the UK emit 7 times more than the average British person.
This means that everyone in the UK who earns at least £160,000 a year is responsible for the majority of the UK’s emissions from domestic transport. This small group emits 13 times more than the poorest in the country.
Taking all this into account, it makes sense to make those who emit the most and can afford it most pay more. And taxing high-emission activities, such as flying, isn’t an unpopular idea in the UK either.
According to a poll from April by think tank More In Common, levying a tax on travel for those who can afford it, is an idea that is widely accepted in the UK and EU. First class and private jets should be the first ones to be taxed in this way, the respondents to the poll said.
But taxes alone won’t do the trick. The IPPR also called on the government to improve public transport, especially local buses, making it easier for people to walk and cycle and accelerate the adaption of electric vehicles.
Only with such a holistic approach, where emission-heavy activities are taxed and low-emission ones are made an easy choice, will the UK be able to reduce its emissions from domestic transport.
Our Opinion
I think it makes a lot of sense to make those people pay who are responsible for the most emissions. However, calling it a wealth tax or something similar isn’t the right way. Because this focuses on how much money people have.
And while it’s the rich who emit most, it’s rather a difficult policy to implement. Instead, the focus should be on emissions, which is what the ideas suggested by many people do. But there is a real risk that we get caught up in a tug of war, with the rich against everyone else.
How would that end? If the past is anything to go by, with the rich winning. So we need to shift the conversation away from rich vs poor and focus on what matters: bringing down emissions.
This has to be done by making activities that emit more emissions, such as flying or sports cars, more expensive and therefore less attractive. Because this is the only way to raise the money needed to avert a climate crisis.
But another thing is needed: a change of behaviour. But this is only possible if the right infrastructure is available. Cycling, walking and using public transport should be accessible, affordable and safe.
In many parts of the country, it isn’t. We need a complete rethink of our infrastructure, so it can support a change of behaviour that will be better for our planet.
