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A groundbreaking report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has unveiled a stark reality in the UKs transport emissions landscape, highlighting a significant disparity in contributions to the climate crisis.

Emissions from travel are not fairly shared across people living in Great Britain, says the report.

The research reveals that the nations wealthiest individuals are disproportionately responsible for these emissions.

As per the study, the richest 0.1% of the population have been found to emit a staggering 22 times more emissions from transport compared to low earners, and 12 times more than the national average.

This revelation comes amidst increasing concerns about climate change and its devastating impacts, including soaring temperatures and catastrophic weather events.

Globally, we are not on track to keep warming below 1.5C and have not made the required commitments to keep warming below 2C, expressed the report titled Moving Together: A People-focussed Pathway to Fairer and Greener Transport.

The report highlights that half of all transport emissions in Britain originate from just one-fifth of the population. Besides, the top 10% of polluters are responsible for a staggering 42% of all transport emissions.

This startling statistic paints a clear picture of the unequal distribution of environmental burden within the country. This finding further emphasizes the concentration of environmental impact within a small segment of society.

Moreover, a closer examination of travel patterns reveals a direct correlation between wealth and distance traveled.

People with an income over 100k travel at least double as far each year as those under 30k, and almost three times further than those under 10k, the researchers mentioned.

These numbers suggest that higher income levels facilitate increased mobility and, consequently, higher emissions.

There is huge disparity between the emissions from transport of the wealthiest and those on lowest incomes, commented the report.

It also sheds light on demographic disparities in transport emissions.

Men, individuals aged 35-64, and residents of less deprived areas tend to have higher emissions levels, while those with disabilities, non-white British ethnicities, and individuals from more deprived backgrounds tend to emit less.

This finding underscores the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors and environmental impact.

Our transport system both reflects and contributes to social inequalities. Reducing emissions can actually tackle some of that injustice, if done fairly, said Dr Maya Singer Hobbs, senior research fellow at IPPR.

Alarmingly, the UKs progress in reducing transport emissions over the past three decades has been minimal, with the transport sector now standing as the countrys largest emitter.

The report urges the government to take decisive action to address this inequality and accelerate efforts towards decarbonization.

Among the suggestions offered by the report are the implementation of new taxes on private jets, a mode of transport favored by the wealthy, and improvements to public transportation to provide more sustainable options for all.

Additionally, it calls for a faster transition to electric vehicles to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in the transport sector. This comprehensive study aims to mitigate the environmental impact of the transport sector while addressing the underlying socioeconomic disparities that contribute to it.

Now is not the time to slow down our efforts to reach net zero; doing so just fuels existing transport inequalities, concluded Stephen Frost, a principal research fellow at IPPR.

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Aman Tripathi An active and versatile journalist and news editor. He has covered regular and breaking news for several leading publications and news media, including The Hindu, Economic Times, Tomorrow Makers, and many more. Aman holds expertise in politics, travel, and tech news, especially in AI, advanced algorithms, and blockchain, with a strong curiosity about all things that fall under science and tech.

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Richest 0.1% in UK emit 22x more transport emissions than low earners - Interesting Engineering