Why emissions cuts start with the richest

In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, global carbon emissions need to be dramatically reduced. And it is the richest who need to reduce them the furthest.

This is well illustrated by a new briefing released by Oxfam today.

In the graph below, which I have simplified slightly from their report, we see the consumption emissions of global income groups – the richest 1% and 10%, the 40% in the middle, and the poorest 50%.

The carbon emissions of the world’s wealthiest pe...