FOOTPRINTS

The green bars depict the relative carbon footprints of individuals from 13 countries in 2021. In each column the gap between the dark and light green section is the average value for that country. The bottom of the light green section is the carbon footprint of the poorest 10% of the population and the top of the darker band is that of the richest 10%. The countries from top to bottom are 1] USA,2] Korea, 3] Canada, 4] Russia, 5] Japan, 6] South Africa, 7] China, 8] UK, 9] EU, 10] Mexico, 11] Brazil, 12] Indonesia, 13] India.

In a recent article in the Guardian newspaper Damian Carrington quotes these figure from the International Energy Agency which he points out show that whilst in 1990 most of the inequality in carbon emissions was between rich and poor nations, thee decades on most of the inequality is between rich and poor in individual countries.  In the USA [shown at the top] the richest 10% are responsible for 16 times emisssions of the poorest 10%. In South Africa [column 6] the emissions of the top 10% are as large as the remander of the population. However we should not forget that the poorest 10% in the USA have a footprint bigger than  90% of those in India [column 13].

Damian goes on to point out that taxes and restrictions based on the averages in each country disadvantage the poor rather than restricting the rich. Actions, it appears, ought to be more directed at the wealthier citizens who are having the major  impact on the world environment.