Switzerland Today
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Young rich men are more likely to harm the environment than other social groups. This may, or may not, surprise you. There’s more on these carnivorous jet-setters below.
But first, the news of the day.
In the news: bumper start to the ski season, cantonal wolf hunt stays suspended and asylum seeker numbers expected to stay high.
- Swiss ski resorts have got off to a good start to the season with 26% more people using resort facilities in December compared to the previous year.
- Cantons Valais and Graubünden have lost a bid to resume wolf hunting while a court deliberates legal challenges from conservationist groups.
- Migration officials are planning for around 30,000 asylum applications this year – the same number as in 2023.
Who’s harming the planet?
Humans are being blamed for creating catastrophic damage to the environment. But which humans in particular?
A study of 3,000 people in SwitzerlandExternal link, carried out by the Sotomo research group on behalf of energy consultancy Helion, has pointed the finger at young, wealthy men.
The most culpable age group are 18 to 35-year-olds who are more mobile and adventurous than their middle-aged and older peers.
The average size of Swiss carbon footprint is 10.5 tons of CO2 emissions per year. This worst age group is responsible for 11.3 tons.
And it appears that the richer you are, the more likely you are to be an environmental vandal. The average person who earns more than CHF16,000 per month emits 14.8 tons. This has also been attributed to a greater propensity for flying to far-flung places.
This is offset to a degree by rich people being able to afford well insulated, modern homes.
Men also do worse than women, according to the study. This is apparently because women eat less meat and drive fewer kilometres.
But the study authors are careful not to blame all members of misbehaving social groups.
“It would be wrong to lump all young men together,” Sotomo managing director Michael Hermann told the Tages Anzeiger.
A minority of jet-setters in this group “is driving up the average and destroying the climate balance of all young people.”
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