The richest one percent of people in the world are responsible for more than double the amount of CO2 emissions than the entire poorer half of the global population, according to a study by Oxfam. The report was released ahead of the 75th United Nations General Assembly, which began on Tuesday in New York. The study covers the period from 1990 to 2015, during which global CO2 emissions doubled. The richest 10 percent of the world’s population, which equates to around 630 million people, were responsible for 52 percent of global CO2 emissions during this time. The richest one percent alone was responsible for 15 percent of emissions, while the poorer half of the world’s population was responsible for just seven percent.
Oxfam is calling for higher taxes on carbon-emitting cars and frequent flying, as well as increased investment in public infrastructure such as public transport and a carbon-neutral overhaul of the global economy. The report also highlights strong inequalities in CO2 emissions in Germany, where the richest 10 percent of the population were responsible for 26 percent of emissions, while the poorer half of the population, which equates to 41.5 million people, were responsible for 29 percent of emissions. Ellen Ehmke, an expert on social inequality at Oxfam Germany, argues that “a policy that relies on consumption incentives, promises perpetual growth, and economically divides the world into winners and losers is responsible for the catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis that are already being felt in many places.” Ehmke calls for a solution that addresses both the climate crisis and inequality.
The report identifies air travel and SUVs as the two largest contributors to CO2 emissions. Ehmke is calling for taxes on carbon-emitting SUVs and frequent flying as a first step towards reducing emissions. Oxfam’s report highlights the urgent need for action to address the inequalities in CO2 emissions and the devastating impact of the climate crisis on the world’s poorest communities.
