Super-rich pollute more than almost half of humanity

A recent Oxfam analysis reveals that the wealthiest 0.1% of the global population produces more pollution than the poorest 3.5 billion combined. This group, comprising eight million individuals, contributes significantly to extreme heat events, emitting over three times the greenhouse gases of the entire Sub-Saharan African population. The richest 1% are responsible for 20% of global warming since 1990, with emissions leading to millions of additional heat-related deaths, primarily in low-income countries. Oxfam calls for governments at COP31 to impose taxes on major polluters and increase climate financing for the Global South, warning that climate change could displace one billion people by 2050.