How to save the planet and influence people: Rich must must step up on climate, study says

Anyone earning over £80,000 has ‘outsized’ potential to facilitate change, writes Harry Cockburn

Over 50 per cent of emissions from flying are caused by just 1 per cent of the world’s population (Getty/iStock)

It is not just the super-rich who overuse resources and could help tackle the worsening climate crisis by changing their habits – the moderately rich also have a disproportionate impact on global greenhouse gas emissions and can take action, new research highlights.

The work by environmental psychologists at the University of Cambridge identifies how people who have high socioeconomic status can play a major role in shaping society, influence the choices available to themselves and others, and provide options that either exacerbate or mitigate climate change.

The study defines high socioeconomic status as a person’s position in the structure of society, including not only their wealth and income, but also their “social resources”, which include social class, occupation and social networks.