Logically, wealthy people are higher consumers. They buy more stuff, they use more electricity because usually they live in spacious homes that need heating, and, most of the time, they have big families. All of these factors contribute to more greenhouse gas emissions, which, as we all know, trap and hold heat into the atmosphere. Subsequently, this causes climate change.
The Carbon Footprint of Wealthy People
A few years ago, a study conducted by Oxfam showed that rich people’s impact on the environment is much more negative than that of poor individuals. In the survey, it was pointed out that people from the lower class are responsible for less than 10% of the carbon footprint in the world. Wealthy individuals, however, were said to have contributed to an increase of carbon dioxide emissions 11 times more than poor people.
In 2018, Stefan Gössling, a Swedish academic who has specialized in sustainable tourism, carried out another survey focused on wealthy people’s carbon footprint. He investigated well-known celebrities, such as George Clooney, Bill Gates, and Paris Hilton. During Gössling and his team’s research, they concluded that Bill Gates is responsible for tons of greenhouse gas emissions due to the fact that he took almost 60 flights in a single year.
Rich people who invested greatly into fossil fuels and were fond of over-consumption were called the polluter elite. Wealthy individuals residing in Canada, for instance, emit approximately 14 tonnes of carbon per year. In order to stabilize the carbon footprint on a global scale, instead of 14, people should emit less than one tonne per year.
The Most Common Ways In Which Rich People Increase Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The entire lifestyle of wealthy people is contributing to a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the entire world. Unlike poor people, rich individuals tend to engage in many activities that are, unfortunately, quite disadvantageous to the atmosphere. Here are some of the things that are part of every rich person’s everyday life:
- Buying many products.
- Living in huge homes that require electricity.
- Traveling by planes, motorbikes, and SUVs.
- Rich people rarely recycle or reuse products.
- Consuming foods with high carbon dioxide emissions.
Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint
Although the possible changes we are about to list may seem inconsiderable, if implemented as soon as possible, the carbon footprint will significantly reduce not only in the specific country but globally. Many experts suggest that wealthy people should pay higher carbon taxes because many of their everyday activities contribute to a massive increase in carbon emissions in the atmosphere. The so-called carbon taxes may be in the form of more expensive plane tickets, for example.
Decrease in Consumption
It’s far from surprising that the very first thing wealthy people can do to reduce their carbon footprint is to also reduce their consumption. Unquestionably, people who can afford to buy more things usually do it. Sometimes they would even buy stuff they don’t need just because they have the money. Nonetheless, the day-long pleasure of buying something new is certainly not worth the negative impact on the environment.
Buying more sustainable products will certainly benefit the overall decrease of greenhouse gas emissions. The reason being is that the production of many things requires nonrenewable fossil fuels. For instance, the fabrics used in fast fashion are mostly made from petroleum.
Change in Everyday Diet
As shocking as it may sound, even the food we consume increases carbon emissions. This advice applies not only to the wealthiest people, but to everyone else, as well. Foods, such as meat and dairy, are incredibly non-beneficial to the environment. Many experts believe that going vegan is the best way to save the atmosphere from greenhouse gas emissions.
In fact, many vegans share that they changed their diets not only because of their love for animals but as an attempt to contribute to a better world, as well. Consuming products, such as beans, vegetables, and fruits is considered much more advantageous than eating meat, dairy products, and ready-to-cook foods.
Electric Rather than Petrol Vehicles
Unquestionably, this is one of the most common reasons for the pollution in the air. An enormous percentage of the population use vehicles to travel, to go to work, and to visit their parents living in neighboring cities. Wealthy people, however, usually like buying pricey cars, which is quite understandable.
Nonetheless, those who drive SUVs, for example, support the increase of greenhouse gas emissions. Such cars are faster and therefore oblige owners to pay for more petrol, which leads to massive air pollution. One of the best ways to reduce carbon footprint is to switch from petrol vehicles to electric ones.
Without a doubt, they are quite expensive but for many people buying one won’t be a problem. Of course, experts also suggest using bikes or going to our destinations on foot. Nevertheless, there are instances when a car is an absolute must. Thus, choosing to go with an electric vehicle rather than one that requires petrol is a much more convenient option when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.