Tackling the climate crisis requires more social justice – this is emphasized by both the Club of Rome and the Wuppertal Institute. Germany is currently living far beyond its ecological means. Yet, a good life for all people is certainly possible. But how can this be achieved on a planet with limited resources?
The think tank Club of Rome explored this question two years ago. Now, the initiative “Earth4All,” with the involvement of the Club of Rome and the Wuppertal Institute, has released a report specifically for Germany. The experts call for profound changes in society and the economy to enable an environmentally and climate-friendly transformation. This includes significantly higher taxation of the wealthy. Only in this way can the urgently needed “great leap” be financed, says economist Peter Hennicke, member of the Club of Rome and co-author of the report.
The report shows that the richest 10 percent of people worldwide are responsible for 50 percent of harmful CO2 emissions, while the poorest 50 percent of the global population cause less than 10 percent of emissions. In Germany, we also “continue to live far beyond our means in terms of planetary boundaries.” A mere “business as usual” approach not only worsens inequalities but is also unable to prevent the dramatic consequences of the climate crisis.