Jeff Bezos' One Joyride Trip to Space Emits More Carbon Footprint Than Most People's Entire Lifetime – Reports

One analysis indicated that one space voyage by Jeff Bezos generated more carbon dioxide than the majority of the world's population will produce in their lifetime. Not surprising, isn't it?

This equation fully sums up the connection between those who emit greenhouse gases and those who suffer the most from them, as Futurism put it.

Yes, as the research claims, wealth disparity directly impacts pollution. A few viral posts misconstrued what the report's paragraph meant. So here's what the 2022 World Inequality Report said:

"An 11-minute flight emits no fewer than 75 tonnes of carbon per passenger... About one billion individuals emit less than one tonne per person per year. Over their lifetime, this group of one billion individuals does not emit more than 75 tonnes of carbon per person."

CTV News said that Jeff Bezos' mission, which launched into space in July, lasted roughly 11 minutes. Every time a Blue Origin rocket launches into orbit to provide fellow affluent individuals with a brief look into space, Gizmodo said the flight produces more carbon than most persons on Earth would produce in a lifetime.

When he returned to Earth, Bezos said (per NBC) that "[we have] one planet, and we share it, and it's fragile." While traveling on a Blue Origin rocket may have helped him realize something, Gizmodo said it doesn't change the reality that space tourism is not a very equitable means of sharing the planet's resources.

Space Tourism For and By Billionaires 'Harms' Poor Communities?

The trend of space tourism (for and by billionaires) is gaining traction. Science Times said Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese millionaire, recently ended his 12-day trip to the International Space Station. Richard Branson, the millionaire creator of the Virgin Group, also traveled to the edge of space this year.

Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX creator, is a member of the same wealthy gang with lofty space goals. While he has yet to travel to the edge of space, SpaceX has sent its own astronauts into space. SpaceX's trips, according to Futurism, will have an even greater carbon impact than Blue Origin's.

So, even with high-altitude aircraft, Gizmodo underscored that the richest 1 percent of the population produces several times more carbon pollution in a year than the poorest 1 percent of the population generates in a lifetime.

While framing climate strategies, the authors of the World Inequality Report recommended governments to "target wealthier polluters more."

Similarly, CNBC said climate change in the United States is predicted to disproportionately harm the poor. The United Nations has warned that it might exacerbate terrorism in nations where underprivileged people are forced to perform violent actions simply to live.

It appears that if we want a habitable world in the near future, we'll have to hold billionaires responsible for their excessive emissions in a meaningful way.

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.