carbon pollution

The richest 1 percent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region were responsible for 26 percent of carbon emissions in 2022, while the poorest half of the population were responsible for only 10 percent of emissions, an Oxfam report released today has found.

Fifty of the world’s richest billionaires on average produce more carbon through their investments, private jets and yachts.

The richest 1 percent of the world’s population produced as much carbon pollution in 2019 than the five billion people who made up the poorest two-thirds of humanity, reveals a new Oxfam report today. It comes ahead of the UN climate summit in Dubai, amid growing fears that the 1.5°C target for curtailing rising temperatures appears increasingly unachievable.

Responding to the publication today of the IPCC’s Synthesis Report (SYR), Oxfam’s Climate Policy Lead Nafkote Dabi said: “This is, literally, the last chapter. The science shows that limiting global heating to 1.5°C is still possible —but only just. Unless we pull the emergency brake on deadly carbon pollution, ‘unheard-of’ heatwaves, storms, droughts and floods will continue to become more frequent and hit more places and people."