Rich people to blame for carbon emission: Study

As the world grapples with the challenge of climate change, the wealthy seems to be caught on the wrong side, with a study saying that

rich people and their lifestyles account for a major chunk of the carbon emissions globally.

The study by a group of researchers from the Princeton University comes at a time when the developed and developing countries are yet to agree on carbon emission caps, which would help in tackling climate change.

"Most of the world's emissions come disproportionately from the wealthy citizens of the world, irrespective of their nationality," Shoibal Chakravarty, one of the leader authors of the report said.

Chakravarty, who is a physicist at the Princeton Environmental Institute, noted that most of the emissions come from lifestyles that involve airplane flights, car use and the heating and cooling of large homes.

"We estimate that in 2008, half of the world's emissions came from just 700 million people," Chakravarty was quoted as saying about the study in a statement posted on the Princeton University website.

At present, the world average for tons of carbon dioxide emitted a year per individual is about five tons.

Each European produces about 10 tons a year, with each American producing twice that amount, the statement said.

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