Carbon Inequality

Published on 06 Apr 2025

The term "carbon inequality" describes the unequal distribution of carbon emissions among various people, groups, and nations, as well as the resulting effects on climate change. According to the World Inequality Report 2022 (WIR 2022), India and Brazil are countries with ‘extreme’ inequality amongst low- and middle-income group countries.

Consequences of Carbon Inequality

• Disproportionate Vulnerability: Communities that have historically produced fewer emissions are frequently more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

• Example: The 3.5 billion poorest people generate low carbon emissions, but they are disproportionately impacted by climate-related events like floods, storms, and droughts.

• Climate Refugees: Communities most affected by climate change might have to flee as a result of factors like rising sea levels and the loss of arable land.

• Example: According to IPCC report, Over the next 30 years, 143 million people are likely to be uprooted by global warming and climate change.

• Health Disparities: Poor air quality can cause respiratory ailments and other health problems in areas with higher carbon emissions, which are frequently linked to industrialization.

• Example: EEA estimates that, in 2020, approximately 238,000 premature deaths were attributable to PM2.5 in the 27 EU Member States.

• Impact on Livelihoods: The economic well-being of populations can be negatively impacted by changes in precipitation patterns and an increase in the frequency of extreme events, which can affect agriculture and disrupt livelihoods.

• Example: Over two million deaths and $4.3 trillion in economic losses by man-made global warming, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• Policy Challenges: Carbon disparity can complicate international climate negotiations since countries' commitment to emission reduction objectives and financial commitments to climate mitigation and adaptation activities varies.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC): India promised that by 2030, it would generate 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources and cut its GDP's emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels.

• Green Energy Corridor: Its goal is to align the electricity generated by renewable energy sources, such solar and wind, with the traditional power plants inside the grid.

• National Afforestation Programme: It is for ecological restoration of degraded forests and to develop the forest resources with peoples’ participation, with focus on improvement in livelihoods of the forest-fringe communities, especially the poor.

International Initiatives

• Green Climate Fund: To support developing countries, raise and realize their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) ambitions towards low-emissions, climate-resilient pathways.

• International Solar Alliance (ISA): It is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security.

• Race to Resilience: The campaign seeks to catalyse action by non-state actors that builds resilience of 4 billion people from vulnerable groups and communities to climate risks, by 2030. 

Solutions for Reducing Carbon Inequality

• Debt Relief for Climate-Positive Actions: Explore debt relief or restructuring procedures for countries that take climate-friendly actions, with the aim of sustainable practices and reducing the financial burden on countries pursuing green initiatives.

• Equitable Access to Carbon Markets: Ensure that poor countries have access to carbon markets so they can profit from the sale of carbon credits produced by environmentally friendly activities and projects.

• Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Development of climate-resilient farming methods in vulnerable areas, such as water conservation, sustainable land management, and the encouragement of drought-resistant crops.

• Green Jobs and Just Transition: Enable a fair transition for employees in carbon-intensive industries and encourage the development of green jobs.

• Environmental Justice Policies: Adopt policies that specifically address issues of environmental justice, acknowledging that underprivileged groups are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Climate change Carbon equity Carbon inequality CBDR NDC

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change