The wealthiest 10% of the global population bears the primary responsibility for climate change. A recent study published in “Nature Climate Change” indicates that emissions from the richest 10% in the US and China have led to a two- to three-fold increase in extreme temperatures in vulnerable regions. This group accounts for two-thirds of the global warming observed since 1990, along with the increase in extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts.
By employing a novel model that combined economic data with climate simulations, researchers were able to assess emissions from various income groups and their specific impacts on climate phenomena. They discovered that emissions from the wealthiest 10% in the US and China significantly raised extreme temperatures in at-risk areas. The effects are particularly pronounced in vulnerable tropical regions, such as the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa—regions that have historically contributed less to global emissions.
Additionally, the study found that the top 1% of the world’s wealthiest individuals contributed 26 times more than the global average to increases in monthly extreme temperatures and 17 times more to droughts in the Amazon.
The research underscores the importance of emissions linked to financial investments, in addition to personal consumption. The authors propose that prioritizing financial flows and the investment portfolios of high-income individuals could lead to significant climate benefits. They argue that redistributing climate responsibility based on actual emissions is essential—not only to mitigate global warming but also to foster a fairer and more resilient world.
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