Overview
- The NGO estimates the richest 10% were responsible for nearly half of global CO2 in 2023, while the poorest half produced a small fraction.
- Per person, the richest 0.1% emit more than 800 kilograms of CO2 a day globally, compared with about 2 kilograms for the poorest 50%; German figures show large but less extreme gaps.
- Oxfam attributes 586 million tonnes of 2024 emissions to the corporate holdings of 308 billionaires, exceeding the annual output of 118 countries combined.
- The analysis combines income–emissions data with ownership links, counting billionaires who led firms or held at least 10% stakes based on publicly available disclosures.
- The report warns the 1.5°C carbon budget would be spent in three months if everyone emitted like the top 0.1% and urges higher taxes on wealth and income, bans on party donations, exclusion of fossil firms from climate talks, and scrutiny of alleged lobbying and disinformation such as the case involving Vincent Bolloré and CNews.