Target richest Europeans for CO2 cuts: Oxfam

Measures to meet more ambitious EU climate goals should focus on cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the richest European citizens, non-governmental organisation Oxfam said today.

New research by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute indicates that over 1990-2015, the poorest 50pc of Europeans cut GHG emissions by 24pc, while the richest 10pc increased emissions by 3pc and the richest 1pc increased them by 5pc.

The report was released ahead of a meeting of EU leaders on 10-11 December that is also aimed at agreeing more ambitious headline cuts in GHG emissions by 2030.

The research calculated emissions linked to consumption in the EU as well as net emissions from imports from third countries as having increased by 3pc compared with 1990 levels, for the richest 10pc of EU citizens. The richest 10pc are now responsible for a similar share (27pc) of EU GHG net consumption emissions as the poorest 50pc of Europeans. Total annual emissions of the poorest 50pc in the EU fell by 24pc over 1990-2015.

Oxfam is therefore calling for the headline cuts to lead to specific measures that target the emissions of the richest Europeans, including banning SUVs, taxing aviation fuels and investing in housing renovation and public transport.

The study calculated that aviation and car journeys were responsible for 30-40pc of the carbon footprint of the EU's highest emitters.

The richest 1pc of Europeans were classified as having an annual income of over €89,000, and the richest 10pc of over €41,000. The poorest 50pc of Europeans had an annual income of up to €20,000.

By Dafydd ab Iago