The richest one per cent of the world's population are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution as the poorest half of the world, according to a new study.
The study assessed the consumption emissions of different income groups in 25 years -- between 1990 and 2015 -- when humanity doubled the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The Oxfam released the study report 'Confronting Carbon Inequality' on Sunday, which is based on research conducted with the Stockholm Environment Institute.
The study found that the richest 10 per cent accounted for over half (52 per cent) of the emissions added to the atmosphere in the critical 25-year period.
And the richest one per cent were responsible for 15 per cent of emissions -- more than all the citizens of the EU and more than twice that of the poorest half of humanity (7.0 per cent), said the report.
Some 3.1 billion people made up the poorest half of humanity.
During this time, the richest 10 per cent blew one third of the remaining global 1.5C carbon budget, compared to just 4.0 per cent for the poorest half of the population. The carbon budget is the amount of carbon dioxide that can be added to the atmosphere without causing global temperatures to rise above 1.5 Celsius -- the goal set by governments in the Paris Agreement to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
The global annual emissions grew by 60 per cent between 1990 and 2015. The richest 5.0 per cent were responsible for over a third (37 per cent) of this growth. The total increase in emissions of the richest one per cent was three times more than that of the poorest 50 per cent, said the report.
Tim Gore, Head of Climate Policy at Oxfam and author of the report, said: "The over-consumption of a wealthy minority is fuelling the climate crisis. Yet it is poor communities and young people who are paying the price."
Carbon emissions are likely to rapidly rebound as governments ease Covid-related lockdowns, the report said.
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