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UK’s richest can boost climate action but need to cut outsized emissions – study

 Better-off Britons are well placed to accelerate the transition towards
low-carbon technologies, but only if they are prepared to curb their
excessive consumption to lower their outsized carbon footprints, a study
has found.

Researchers found people from the richest 10% in the UK were
more likely to invest in electric vehicles, heat pumps and other clean
energy alternatives, and were more likely to support green policies. But
they also found wealthier people used far more energy at home, were more
likely to fly for leisure, were more reluctant to sacrifice luxuries, and
were likely to underestimate the carbon impact of their own behaviour.

As a result, many wealthy people were caught in a contradiction: vocally
supporting climate action and, in many cases, making climate-conscious
consumer choices, while at the same time materially exacerbating climate
breakdown.

 Guardian 5th March 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/05/uks-richest-can-boost-climate-action-but-need-to-cut-outsized-emissions-study

March 9, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, UK