“A French person emits 7 to 11.6 tonnes of carbon per year depending on their standard of living”

2023-12-03 21:27:57

The richest 10% of the world’s population account for 48% of emissions, while the poorest 50% are only responsible for 12% of greenhouse gases. SARAH MEYSSONNIER/REUTERS/

Time.news – Ecological inequalities are narrower than income inequalities.

Tell me how much you earn, I’ll give you your carbon footprint. The question is common sense: wouldn’t carbon emissions be strictly correlated to the level of wealth of each country and its inhabitants? In Dubai, where COP28, the annual global climate event, is being held throughout the first half of December, the discussions often boil down to a clash between rich and poor countries. John Kerry, the American president’s special envoy for climate, recognized this last year in Dakar: “Twenty countries, including the United States, are responsible for 80% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. And 48 sub-Saharan African countries representedthatntent 0.55% of these emissions.» The figures come from the OECD.

In France, more than elsewhere, the climate issue is approached from the angle of inequalities. Economist Lucas Chancel, professor at Sciences Po and co-author of the “Climate Inequality Report 2023” report, no longer thinks in terms of countries…

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