CSR: Controlling Climate Change to Reduce Income Inequality
According to a survey conducted by Oxfam, the income inequality has been getting worse in the world in the recent years. 82 per cent of all the wealth generated in the world between second quarter of 2016 to the corresponding period of 2017, was made by top 1 per cent of the riches people. On the other hand, the 50 per cent of the poorest people managed to bag less than 1 per cent of total global wealth.
The huge gap between the segments is causing more and more imbalance in the economy as well as the environment. There is a direct correlation between climate change and income inequality. Dealing with the first can aid in controlling the latter.
Energy consumption is one of the major sources of green house emissions at a global level. This energy consumption is more often than not, made by the rich people for operating their devices or vehicles. The consequences have major impact on the lifestyle of poor people who live in areas exposed to environmental hazards with inefficient infrastructure to protect them from it.
According to a research team from the Coalition for Urban Transitions, promoting low carbon energy options would not only improve public health, cut energy bills, create jobs and improve productivity and efficiency, but also ensure that the most vulnerable strata of the society would be benefitted from it.
Apart from that, air pollution causes about 4.2 million deaths each year. The victims are mainly poor people who cannot afford to live or work in areas that have clean air all the time. They are more exposed to the pollution than the rich. Some of the biggest contributors of air pollution are automobiles and energy production from non-renewable resources.
Tackling these problems by introducing more renewable sources for energy generation; creating safer and better infrastructure for pedestrians as well as cyclists; and improving public commute will ensure that the lifestyle of the poor is uplifted. This way, tackling of climate change efficiently can work as an opportunity to address several issues including inequality, health, safety and global warming.
This article is part of a series on climate change action keeping COP24 in view
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