The richest 4% of UK households are on track to emit 22 times more travel emissions than the poorest households by 2035, a new study by the IPPR has found.
If international travel is excluded, the richest households are poised to emit 13 times more travel emissions than the poorest, the data showed.
Emissions inequality
While overall emissions are set to fall over the next decade, the IPPR said that the current emissions inequality between the most affluent and less well-off consumers is set to expand, with richer consumers travelling six times further each year, on average, than those on the lowest incomes.
Wealthier households are more likely to invest in electric vehicles, the study noted, however, this cohort will remain the largest emitters due to increased air travel and higher levels of overall mobility.
Lower-income groups are expected to reduce their emissions more quickly, particularly as a result of the electrification of public transport networks, however the increasing fares of such transport remains an issue.
‘Capacity to change’
“The richest households are driving the bulk of emissions, and they have the greatest capacity to change,” commented Stephen Frost, head of transport policy at IPPR. “Fairness isn’t a barrier to climate action – it’s the key to unlocking it. A fairer approach doesn’t just cut carbon faster, it builds a healthier, more inclusive transport system for everyone.”
According to the IPPR, the UK government isn’t currently doing enough to tackle the surge in traffic-related emissions – as the think tank noted, traffic is set to rise by 12% by 2035.
It has proposed what describes as a ‘fairer pathway’, which would seek to reduce traffic by 25%, cut emissions at a faster rate, and improve access to transport for those on low incomes. Among its recommendations are an increase in funding (to at least £3.1 billion) for buses, and a reform of fuel taxation to support a transition away from fossil fuels. Read more here.
