Footprint of top 1% threatens 1.5 degrees Celsius limit, says study

The richest 1 per cent are on track to be releasing 70 tonnes of CO2 per person, according to the study.

The carbon dioxide emissions of the richest 1 per cent of humanity are on track to be 30 times greater than what is compatible with keeping global heating below 1.5C, new research warns, as scientists urge governments to “constrain luxury carbon consumption” of private jets, megayachts and space travel, The Guardian reported.

But emissions of the poorest 50 per cent will continue to be below climate goals.  According to BBC, the research, carried out by two European environmental agencies, comes as world leaders meet at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. "A tiny elite appear to have a free pass to pollute," saysNaftoke Dabi at Oxfam.

The richest 1 per cent — which is a population smaller than Germany — are on track to be releasing 70 tonnes of CO2 per person a year if current consumption continues, according to the study.  

According to The Guardian, in total they will account for 16 per cent of total emissions by 2030, up from 13 per cent of emissions in 1990.

The charity commissioned the study from the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Institute for European Environmental Policy.

REALITY CHECK: Emissions set to rise 13.7% by 2030, says UN
 

Global carbon emissions are on track to rise by 13.7% by 2030, accor­ding to an updated UN analy­sis. According to a news report in The Guardian, that is a stark contrast to the 50 per cent cut that is needed by then to retain the possib­ility of keeping global temperature rise to 1.5C and avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. The glimmer of good news is that the projected rise in 2030 emissions is down from 16% two weeks ago, after 14 new national pledges were included.