Greenhouse gas: The richer the more you have to reduce

American researchers are proposing a way to share responsibility in cutting greenhouse gas emissions between countries more equitably. It is the country where more and more rich people will have to cut more.

CNN said the method of determining national emissions reduction targets based on high-income people is based on the argument that the more people earn, the more carbon dioxide is released. ' This method is more fair ' - CNN scholar Shoibal Chakravarty of Princeton Institute of Environment (PEI) research group.

Based on data from the World Bank (WB), PEI research team determines income and emissions have a close relationship in any country in the world. ' An individual with an income increase of 10% also emits 10% more CO2. This is true everywhere in the world, 'said Mr. Chakravarty. According to researchers, the more money people buy, the more goods they buy, and the production of goods produces CO ₂ .

Car smoke (Photo: Reuters)

Setting equitable emissions reductions targets have been controversial among nations for many years. Rich countries refuse to drastically cut emissions if developing countries do not commit similar actions. As for developing countries, it is assumed that rich countries are responsible for releasing most of the greenhouse gases in the world.

The PEI team argues that a poor country may initially not have to cut greenhouse gas emissions due to burning many fossil fuels for economic development. But when it gets richer, the country will have to make cuts and then have enough resources to do it.