Middle- and low-income Europeans have contributed most to reducing greenhouse emissions in the last 30 years. This is the conclusion reached in a joint study by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

Europeans with an average income have reduced greenhouse emissions during this period by 13%, and residents with an income below the average (below 20 thousand euros per year) - by 25%. But the richest 10% of the population increased emissions by 3%, writes Europulse.

At the same time, it is the poor Europeans who will be hardest hit by climate change.. Therefore, the researchers proposed to further limit emissions of wealthy Europeans. In particular, they propose to introduce an additional tax on aviation kerosene (because of this, plane tickets will rise in price, and it will become more profitable to travel by train) and prohibit the sale of large SUV or crossover vehicles.

Over the past 30 years, total EU greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 25%. But according to experts, this may not be enough to prevent serious climate change.. In September of this year, the European Union decided to further reduce greenhouse emissions by 2030 - if earlier it was planned to reduce their level by 40% compared to 1990, then the new level is 55%. And by 2050, the EU has pledged to emit no more greenhouse gases than can be naturally absorbed.