World’s Richest 1% Emit As Much Carbon Pollution As Two-Thirds Of Humanity
The richest 1% of the world’s population in 2019 produced as much carbon pollution as five billion people who make up the poorest two-thirds.
This was revealed in an Oxfam report ahead of a UN climate summit.
“The super-rich are plundering and polluting the planet to the point of destruction, leaving humanity choking on extreme heat, floods and drought,” stated Oxfam International interim Executive Director Amitabh Behar.
In a nutshell the report shows the gap between the carbon footprint of the rich which is driving global warming to alarming levels.
Some key points in the report found that:
- 77,000,000 which makes up for the richest 1% were responsible for 16% of global consumption emissions in 2019
- It would take the other 99% a 1,500 years to produce the same amount
Climate breakdown is worsening inequality between the rich and poor. Climate change increases floods which unequal countries are x7 times more likely to die from.
Oxfam is calling on governments to:
- Dramatically reduce inequality
- Rich countries are disproportionately responsible for global warming and must end oil and gas production correspondingly faster
- Prioritise human and planetary well-being over endless profit, extraction and consumption.