In India, the rich cause seven times more emissions than the poor
Pro-poor development measures will not hurt the environment as much as policies to make the wealthy richer, says a new study. Representational image. | Roberto Schmidt / AFP
The top 20% of high-expenditure households in India are responsible for seven times the emissions traceable to the poor who spend less than $1.9 (Rs 140) a day, says a recent
study by the Japan-based
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature. The mean carbon footprint of every Indian was estimated at 0.56 tonne per year – 0.19 tonne per capita among the poor and 1.32 tonne among the rich.