Why the rich should pay more for greater carbon footprint: study

Recent data shows the richest one per cent of the globe's population emitted 110 tonnes of CO2 per head in 2019. Photo: AFP

As rich people have a greater carbon footprint than the poor, they should pay more tax to compensate, says a study by the World Inequality Lab (WIL) published ahead of the upcoming COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

With carbon emission levels returning to pre-pandemic levels, most recent data shows the richest one per cent of the globe's population emitted 110 tonnes of CO2 per head in 2019, study head, Paris School of Economics professor and WIL co-director Lucas Chancel said recently.