1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Climate Change and the Rich

February 3, 2023

Wealthy people are responsible for far more greenhouse gas emissions than poorer people.

Doku | Nahaufnahme Das Klima und die Reichen
Image: NDR

To reduce carbon footprints and prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis, one climate researcher is proposing a CO2 cap and trade system for individuals.

Image: NDR

Disasters such as droughts, fires, and floods are occurring all over the world, triggered by the climate crisis. To counteract this catastrophe, Germany is among many nations pledging to slow global warming at well below two degrees. To achieve this target, the amount of harmful carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere must be restricted in the coming decades.

 

 

Image: NDR

If a fundamental principle of justice were applied, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research says that each person would be allowed to emit no more than three tons of CO2 per year by 2050. But Germans are a long way from achieving this target, with an average carbon footprint of eight to ten tons.  By burning fossil fuels, many millionaires emit more than 100 tons of carbon dioxide per year, and the world’s wealthiest individuals emit thousands of tons each.

 

Image: NDR

Most of the rich protagonists in this film show no willingness to reduce their climate-damaging behavior. One of them flies in a private jet, while another drives a gas-guzzling sports car for fun.

Schellnhuber, a renowned scientist, is therefore calling for a carbon cap to be imposed on individuals, while allowing private trading in CO2 credits. He proposes that each person receives an allowance of three tons of CO2 per year. Those who need more would have to buy from those who consume less, Schellnhuber suggests.

However, German Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck from the Green Party is not in favor of individual CO2 caps. In an interview, Habeck says he’s not focused on the question of "individual budgets.”
 

 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

MON 06.02.2023 – 18:15 UTC
MON 06.02.2023 – 23:30 UTC
TUE 07.02.2023 – 03:30 UTC
TUE 07.02.2023 – 09:15 UTC
TUE 07.02.2023 – 12:30 UTC
TUE 07.02.2023 – 21:30 UTC
WED 08.02.2023 – 07:30 UTC
WED 08.02.2023 – 10:30 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +0 | Berlin UTC +1 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -8 | Edmonton UTC -7 | New York UTC -5

DW Deutsch+

TUE 07.02.2023 – 09:15 UTC
WED 08.02.2023 – 07:30 UTC

Vancouver UTC -8 | New York UTC -5 | Sao Paulo UTC -3

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW