Wealthy Individuals Must Bear Greater Responsibility in Climate Crisis, Says Sébastien Mabile
Sébastien Mabile argues that the wealthy must take more responsibility for climate change as published in his new book *Justice climatique*.
Key Points
- • 2024 is projected to be the hottest year on record.
- • The wealthiest 10% are responsible for half of global emissions.
- • Mabile advocates for legal reforms to address climate injustice.
- • France's luxury consumption significantly contributes to carbon emissions.
As the world braces for what is projected to be the hottest year on record in 2024, environmental lawyer Sébastien Mabile emphasizes the critical need to reassess individual responsibility in climate policies. In his book *Justice climatique*, Mabile argues that the wealthiest 10% of the global population, who are responsible for half of the world’s emissions, should be held accountable for their disproportionate environmental impact. Meanwhile, the poorest are left to bear most of the sacrifices in current climate measures, which Mabile claims are fundamentally inequitable.
The urgency of the issue is magnified by a stark statistic from the Copernicus program, which notes that humanity's remaining carbon budget to maintain global warming below 1.5°C stands at merely 400 billion tons of CO2—projected to be depleted by 2030 at current emission rates. Mabile criticizes France specifically as a hub for luxury consumption that exacerbates these emissions, highlighting industries linked to super yachts and private jets that often escape stricter regulations and taxes.
Mabile's perspective is that climate change must be viewed through the lens of social justice, echoing historical inequalities. He calls for legal reforms, including potential bans on private jets and the implementation of individual carbon quotas, to shift the burden towards those contributing most to the crisis. He states, “The fight against climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a social justice issue,” urging for a more equitable approach to climate action that compels the affluent to take significant steps towards sustainability.