Reducing inequality is essential in tackling climate crisis, researchers argue

Promoting climate-friendly behaviours will be more successful in societies where everyone has the capacity: financially, physically, and timewise, to make changes. People on lower incomes can be more restricted in the things they can do to help reduce their carbon footprint. Charlotte Kukowski In a report just published in the journal Nature Climate Change , researchers argue that tackling inequality is vital in moving the world towards Net-Zero - because inequality constrains who can feasibly adopt low-carbon behaviours. They say that changes are needed across society if we are to mitigate climate change effectively. Although wealthy people have very large carbon footprints, they often have the means to reduce their carbon footprint more easily than those on lower incomes. The researchers say there is lack of political recognition of the barriers that can make it difficult for people to change to more climate-friendly behaviours. They suggest that policymakers provide equal opportunities for low-carbon behaviours across all income brackets of society.