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Glaring climate inequalities between the Commonwealth’s richest and poorest countries pose a “direct threat to African lives”, a new report has found.
Data analysed by the Kenyan-based climate and energy think tank Power Shift Africa reveals the UK emitted 5.5 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions per head last year – as much as more than 18 Commonwealth countries combined.
The damning report concludes that the historic, and continuing pollution of the Commonwealth’s leaders – the UK, Australia and Canada – have driven climate change that is already impacting the poorest countries in the bloc worst.
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African development, energy and climate expert Youba Sokona, told DeSmog: “The vast emissions that the UK, Canada and Australia produce compared to the rest of the Commonwealth are a direct threat to African lives and livelihoods.
“If [the UK, Canada and Australia] really cared about the Commonwealth, like they claim, these leaders would be doing far more to curb their emissions. They would be supporting the other Commonwealth members in their efforts towards zero emissions development pathways and help clean up the mess they have contributed to.”
