Researchers Say Richest 1% Produce Twice the CO2 Emissions Than Poorest 50%

According to researchers, the world's richest 1% causes twice the amount of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) than the world's poorest 50 percent.

Surprising New Research

New research examined the carbon emissions proportions between the rich and the poor from 1990 up to 2015 and saw that the emissions by the wealthiest 1% increased three times compared to the increase of the poorest 50 percent. The emission of carbon dioxide has increased by 60 percent in the duration of those 25 years. 

The Stockholm Environment Institute and Oxfam published the research. It warned of the burgeoning over-consumption by the world's wealthy, with their addiction to transportation with high carbon emissions that is depleting the carbon budget of the world.

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Carbon Budget Squandered

According to Oxfam International policy, advocacy & research head Tim Gore, this high carbon emission concentration among the world's wealthy tells us that fossil fuel burning is done by humanity. While taking a toll on the planet's health and bringing about a worldwide climate crisis, it also did not improve the lives of the billions who are poor.

Gore says the carbon budget of the world is being squandered to expand the rich's already humongous consumption, instead of improving humanity. He says that we need to ensure the proper use of carbon.

Consumption of the Rich

The top 10 percent richest people in the world comprise roughly 630 million people. This group is responsible for approximately 52 percent worldwide emissions in the 25 years encompassing the study period.

The 10% richest are classified as people with incomes surpassing $35,000 per year, while the 1% richest earn over $100,000.

Emissions of carbon dioxide stay and grow larger, disrupting ecosystems and natural planetary processes. If it is not curbed and the carbon emissions of the rich continue, temperature levels may increase by 1.5º C even if the rest of the world's population immediately cuts their emissions down to zero.

According to Oxfam, allowing the world's rich to continue their obscene levels of emissions is unfair to the world's poor. As the world slowly shifts into using renewables and gradually eliminates fossil fuels, the remaining emissions necessary in the transition period should be channeled into improving the basic amenities of the poor. However, Gore says that the world's carbon budget is already nearly used up by the rich, and continues to use it to get even richer.

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Specifically, Gore identifies the rich's use of transportation as among the most critical factors that drive emission growth. The rich are increasingly driving SUVs and other cars that have very high emissions. They also fly more.

Oxfam is recommending taxes on these high-emitting luxuries, including taxes on frequent flyers. Then, the income from this must be utilized in initiating low-emitting alternatives and improve the conditions of the poor. Gore said the tax on flying applies only to just a small number of rich.

According to Green party MP Caroline Lucas, it is a stark example of injustice, in that the more vulnerable and exposed sectors are those who contribute the least to carbon emissions. It is the UK's moral responsibility to correct this due to its disproportionately high carbon emissions in the past, and because it is next year's host for the climate summit of the UN. This disproportionate carbon dioxide emissions by the richest 1% must be balanced and be made equitable.

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Check out more news and information on Carbon emissions on Nature World News.