A new report by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute has revealed that during the years 1990 to 2015, the 1% of the world's wealthiest population were responsible for more than twice as much carbon dioxide emissions than the poorer half of the world. During the 25-year period, carbon emissions rose by approximately 60%.
The report stated that the world's 'carbon budget' is being exhausted by overconsumption and "the addiction of the rich to high-carbon transport means".
If the emissions of the richest 10% are left unchecked, over the next decade, the emissions would be enough to raise temperatures by 1.5C. This is likely to happen even if the rest of the world cuts its emissions to zero immediately.