Cutting carbon emissions by reducing those of high earners

Summary

High earners consume more energy and thereby create more greenhouse gas emissions.  One way of reducing both would be to cut energy usage of the top earners and thereby carbon emissions. If emissions were capped at the average for all earners then those in the top four income deciles – 7 to 10 would see cuts in their output.  High earners (10) would see the largest fall (58%), followed by 33% (9) and 20% (8).  Overall emissions would be cut by 15%.  Most people would not see any reductions at all. 

 

This reduction would not mean that other measures would be unnecessary.  Reducing travel, consumption while increasing the use of renewables for energy production would all be required.

 

Data

 

	Carbon output
Income	Existing	Adjusted	Change
Decile	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	%
10	22.3	9.3	13.0	58
9	14.0	9.3	4.7	33
8	11.6	9.3	2.3	20
7	10.2	9.3	0.9	9
6	9.3	9.3	0.0	0
5	8.4	8.4	0.0	0
4	7.4	7.4	0.0	0
3	7.0	7.0	0.0	0
2	5.6	5.6	0.0	0
1	4.2	4.2	0.0	0
Average	9.3	7.9	1.4	15

 

Source

Gabittis, J., (14th December 2022), Richest people in UK ‘use more energy flying’ than poorest do overall, Carbon Brief.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/richest-people-in-uk-use-more-energy-flying-than-poorest-do-overall/