--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact is that seven per cent of the…" description: "\"The fact is that seven per cent of the global population emits 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and the proportions are the same for the use of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg" --- # The fact is that seven per cent of the global population… ![“The fact is that seven per cent of the global population emits 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and the proportions are the same for the use of energy and raw materials, meat, wood, etc. Simply put, an infinitesimal minority consumes the most and imposes damage on the overwhelming…” quote by Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg) > “The fact is that seven per cent of the global population emits 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and the proportions are the same for the use of energy and raw materials, meat, wood, etc. Simply put, an infinitesimal minority consumes the most and imposes damage on the overwhelming majority, while asking it to change.” [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tiny fraction of people cause the majority of environmental damage, while the rest bear the burden and are asked to change. **In simple terms:** A small minority creates most ecological harm. Key Takeaway Address inequality in consumption. Themes environmental justice inequality responsibility Mood concerned urgent Type informative call to action When to use this quote - policy advocacy - consumer education - corporate accountability - personal lifestyle changes Key Concepts sustainability externalities resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can societies incentivize fairer resource use? - What policies could limit high‑impact emissions? A Different Perspective Changing habits of the few may be politically difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Cents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cents/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Emissions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emissions/) [Emissions Proportions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emissions-proportions-1851358/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etc/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Gas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gas/) [Greenhouse gases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greenhouse-gases/) [Greenhouses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greenhouses/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meat/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Minority Consumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minority-consumes-1851359/) [Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming/) [Overwhelming Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming-majority-258938/) [Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population/) [Population Emits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population-emits-1851360/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Raw material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raw-material/) [Raw materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raw-materials/) [Seven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) ## Related quotes > [...warming of the climate system is unequivocal...most of the global average warming over the past 50 years is very likely due to anthropogenic greenhouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajendra-k-pachauri/warming-of-the-climate-system-is-unequivocal-most-of-the-global/) [Rajendra K. Pachauri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajendra-k-pachauri/) > [ We will pay for this \[climate change\] one way or another. We will pay to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions today and we'll have to take… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/we-will-pay-for-this-climate-change-one-way-or-another-we-will-pay-to/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [The basic scientific conclusions on climate change are very robust and for good reason. The greenhouse effect is simple science: greenhouse gases trap heat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-stern/the-basic-scientific-conclusions-on-climate-change-are-very-robust/) [Nicholas Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-stern/) > [The world community simply should not support such extreme measures when there are so many other pressing issues at hand. The optimal response to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-o-mendelsohn/the-world-community-simply-should-not-support-such-extreme-measures/) [Robert O. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-o-mendelsohn/) > [Global warming results not from the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but from an unusually high level of solar radiation and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khabibullo-abdusamatov/global-warming-results-not-from-the-emission-of-greenhouse-gases-into/) [Khabibullo Abdusamatov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khabibullo-abdusamatov/) > [Being vegan or vegetarian isn't just about compassion for animals. Most of the destruction of the planet is the result of all the clear-cutting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcnamara/being-vegan-or-vegetarian-isn-t-just-about-compassion-for-animals/) [William McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcnamara/) > [Even if we didn't have greenhouse gases, were going to have to move away from fossil fuels, as we're going to run out. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/even-if-we-didn-t-have-greenhouse-gases-were-going-to-have-to-move/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [That's right-the striking thing about greenhouse gases is the diversity of sources that emit them. A herd of cattle belching can be worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/that-s-right-the-striking-thing-about-greenhouse-gases-is-the/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [The message I am trying to get across is exactly this: Protecting the environment does not require us to be against large SUVs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-message-i-am-trying-to-get-across-is-exactly-this-protecting-the/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [We have climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from human power and transportation infrastructure. At the same time, we have 2 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/we-have-climate-change-caused-by-greenhouse-gas-emissions-mostly-from/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > ['Scientific' computer simulations predict global warming based on increased greenhouse gas emissions over time. However, without water's contribution taken into account they omit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers/scientific-computer-simulations-predict-global-warming-based-on/) [Michael Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-myers/) > [If Africa is left behind, she is going to continue pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, especially carbon. She's going to continue logging the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/if-africa-is-left-behind-she-is-going-to-continue-pumping-greenhouse/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Connect with people, visibly and loudly showcase initiatives that reduce greenhouse gases emissions, nurture youth leaders, or spread the message by raising awareness through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiana-figueres/connect-with-people-visibly-and-loudly-showcase-initiatives-that/) [Christiana Figueres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiana-figueres/) > [I've been vegan for 15 years, and it turns out it makes a very big impact on the environment to eat fewer animal products,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/i-ve-been-vegan-for-15-years-and-it-turns-out-it-makes-a-very-big/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [CAFE standards have little impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and the environmental benefits of increasing CAFE standards are frequently overstated. Their impact on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/cafe-standards-have-little-impact-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-the/) [Amy Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ridenour/) ## More by Yann Arthus-Bertrand > [To have success in your professional life is not so hard. To succeed as a man is more difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/to-have-success-in-your-professional-life-is-not-so-hard-to-succeed/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [Will we be able to imagine a new culture of water?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/will-we-be-able-to-imagine-a-new-culture-of-water/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [Our children think our world will end. It's a tragic thing. Adults don't think that. They don't see that we are eating the planet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/our-children-think-our-world-will-end-it-s-a-tragic-thing-adults-don/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [I learned to be a hot-air balloon pilot to take tourists over the Masai Mara Reserve in order to earn some money and finance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/i-learned-to-be-a-hot-air-balloon-pilot-to-take-tourists-over-the/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [No one is an environmentalist by birth. It is only your path, your life, your travels that awaken you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/no-one-is-an-environmentalist-by-birth-it-is-only-your-path-your-life/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [You know the problem, we don't want to believe what we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/you-know-the-problem-we-don-t-want-to-believe-what-we-know/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [I never lose an opportunity to speak about my obsession: humankind and the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/i-never-lose-an-opportunity-to-speak-about-my-obsession-humankind-and/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [The trust we build over the years if of tremendous help to me when I start in a new project and need to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-trust-we-build-over-the-years-if-of-tremendous-help-to-me-when-i/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [There is something very utopian about what I do. But utopia is nothing more than a truth that the world is not yet ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/there-is-something-very-utopian-about-what-i-do-but-utopia-is-nothing/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [I'm not an expert when it comes to technology, but what changed things for me was autofocus. I used to have to throw away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/i-m-not-an-expert-when-it-comes-to-technology-but-what-changed-things/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-earth-is-art-the-photographer-is-only-a-witness/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [The West has become the world model; developing countries are dreaming of living like us, which is impossible. They should reject our model, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-west-has-become-the-world-model-developing-countries-are-dreaming/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [An image of the earth, its landscapes, directly affects people. The beauty of the earth creates enormous emotion, and through that emotion, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/an-image-of-the-earth-its-landscapes-directly-affects-people-the/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [I always take hundreds and hundreds of pictures. I used to work for 'National Geographic,' and they gave us a lot of film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/i-always-take-hundreds-and-hundreds-of-pictures-i-used-to-work-for/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) > [I wanted to be a scientist. I did a thesis on lions. But I realised photography can show things writing can't. Lions were my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/i-wanted-to-be-a-scientist-i-did-a-thesis-on-lions-but-i-realised/) [Yann Arthus-Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) [Explore all 25 Yann Arthus-Bertrand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact is that seven per cent of the global population emits 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and the proportions are the same for the use of energy and raw materials, meat, wood, etc. Simply put, an infinitesimal minority consumes the most and imposes damage on the overwhelming majority, while asking it to change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yann Arthus-Bertrand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-global-population-emits-50-per/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-global-population-emits-50-per/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/yann-arthus-bertrand-24057_asking_the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-g_969513.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fact is that seven per cent of the global population emits 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and…” — Yann Arthus-Bertrand", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Yann Arthus-Bertrand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-arthus-bertrand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fact is that seven per...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-global-population-emits-50-per/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-arthus-bertrand/the-fact-is-that-seven-per-cent-of-the-global-population-emits-50-per/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```