America's super-rich are running down the planet's safe climate spaces, says Oxfam

The world's richest individuals are ravaging the planet's remaining safe space to mitigate the effects of global warming. The wealthiest 0.1% in the US, comprising billionaires and multimillionaires, are consuming carbon emissions at a staggering rate - 4,000 times faster than the poorest half of humanity. This concentration of wealth has led to an enormous disproportionate impact on the environment.

The data paints a stark picture: while a citizen of Somalia burns off just 82 grams of CO2 daily, equivalent to that of a single tomato or a small cup of rice, the average for everyone else is around 12kg - roughly as heavy as a standard car tire. Conversely, these ultra-rich individuals emit an average of 2.2 tonnes of CO2 daily, roughly equivalent to that of a rhinoceros or an SUV.

The carbon footprint of these billionaires is staggering, with 308 out of the world's top 400 billionaires having a combined impact equal to that of 15th most polluting country in the world. Oxfam has also found that almost 60% of billionaire investments are concentrated in sectors such as mining and oil and gas companies.

This enormous disparity between the affluent and the poor exacerbates the climate crisis, with devastating consequences. The richest 1% will cause an estimated 13 million heat-related deaths by the end of this century and inflict $44 trillion of economic damage on low- and lower-middle-income countries by 2050. The suffering is disproportionately high in countries already on the frontlines of climate change.

The report has highlighted that governments need to take immediate action, such as imposing taxes on the wealthy, banning their lobbying, and putting those most affected by climate change at the forefront of decision-making processes. Without drastic measures, the world risks being pushed further away from its climate goals, with temperatures soaring above 1.5C due to the consumption patterns of this tiny elite.

The report highlights a worrying trend - billionaires are funding far-right movements that actively work against climate policies and net-zero targets. This is the tip of the spear in an ongoing battle to sabotage efforts to combat climate change and protect the planet's remaining safe spaces for future generations.

come on...this is just crazy! I get it, the rich people are being super wasteful with their carbon footprint and it's like they're not even thinking about anyone else . but can't we talk about this in a way that's more constructive? like, what's the solution here? taxing them or banning lobbying? it sounds good on paper but will it actually make a difference?

and another thing, why do we always blame the rich people for everything? it's not just them, it's a system problem. we need to work together as a society to address this climate crisis. I'm all for taking action and holding those who are most affected accountable, but let's not forget that there are other factors at play here too .

and have you seen the data on the far-right movements being funded by billionaires? that's just wild...it's like they're trying to pull the wool over our eyes. we need to stay vigilant and make sure our voices are heard when it comes to climate policy

omg, 308 billionaires together emit more CO2 than a whole country it's literally insane how much carbon they're burning off every day - like 2.2 tonnes! and get this, almost 60% of their investments are in industries that pollute the planet even more they just don't seem to care about the world's future, but we do need to take action... governments need to step up and impose some serious changes, like taxes on the wealthy and banning their lobbying power

I'm just thinking, it's crazy how much carbon emissions those billionaires are producing , like 2.2 tonnes daily? That's insane! And it's not just that, but they're also investing in companies that contribute to climate change, like mining and oil and gas ... it's like they're doing their own personal destruction . And what's even more worrying is that they're influencing politicians with their money , it's like they think they can just buy their way out of this problem . I mean, we need to hold these people accountable for their actions .

it's so messed up thinkin about this... these rich people, they just keep on burnin thru carbon like it's nobodies business while we're all strugglin to survive . 308 billionaires can make the same impact as 15th most polluting country in the world? that's insane ! and its not just about us, they're also fundin far-right movements to sabotage climate policies... what a waste of resources

i'm just thinking, how can a tiny % of people have so much power over the planet? it's like they're sucking all the air outta our atmosphere . 2.2 tonnes of CO2 per day is CRAZY! and it's not even just the emissions themselves, but also the way they're profiting from the destruction of our homes and communities . we need to do something about this ASAP before it's too late... but what can one person (or even a group of people) do against such massive power?

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." This couldn't be more true when it comes to our current state of environmental destruction, we're basically reliving the same mistakes over and over. It's like a ticking time bomb just waiting to unleash its devastating consequences on us all

OMG I'm so done with this situation! It's like, super unfair that the richest people are destroying our planet at such an insane rate ! They're basically polluting more than a whole country - 15th most polluting country in the world?! That's wild!

It's like, we need to take action ASAP and make those billionaires pay for their carbon emissions . Governments gotta step up and impose taxes on them and ban their lobbying . We can't let the richest 1% keep sucking up all the resources while poor people suffer .

And it's not just that... these billionaires are also funding far-right movements that are against climate policies ! Like, what even is that? It's like they want to sabotage our planet's future . We need to stop them and protect our planet for next gen .

We gotta make some noise about this and demand change. No more climate denial ! We need a new way of living, where everyone contributes equally to save our planet .

I'm worried about these super rich people, they're basically destroying the planet! Like, 4,000 times more CO2 than the poorest half of humanity is insane! And it's not just the emissions, but their investments too are causing a lot of harm. Oxfam says almost 60% of billionaire investments are in mining and oil companies... that's like putting all your eggs in one bad basket, you know?

It makes sense that this concentration of wealth would have a huge impact on the environment, but it's still hard to believe. I mean, we're talking about people who can breathe down governments' throats for tax breaks and lobbying rights, while the rest of us are just trying to survive. It's not fair, you know?

I think the report is spot on, though - governments need to take action. Maybe some kind of wealth tax or stricter regulations would help even things out a bit. And it's not like this would be a bad thing for everyone... it could actually bring in some much-needed revenue for countries already struggling with climate change.

But what really gets me is that these billionaires are basically funding far-right movements to block climate policies. Like, that's just evil, right? We need to hold them accountable and make sure they're not sabotaging our efforts to save the planet. It's time for a change!

It's wild to think we're leaving a livable planet for our kids because the richest 0.1% are guzzling CO2 like it's water . Their carbon footprint is insane , and it's not even close to being sustainable. The fact that they're funding far-right movements to block climate policies is a huge red flag . We need systemic change ASAP, not just empty rhetoric or token gestures . These billionaires are playing with the future of our planet, and it's time we held them accountable .

I'm literally shaking my head over this ... like what's going on with these billionaires? 308 out of top 400 having a bigger impact than a whole country? It's insane! And it's not just about them, their investments are causing so much harm to the environment and people already struggling. I feel for those in Somalia burning off just 82 grams of CO2 daily ... can't imagine how hard life is over there. We need to do something ASAP about this climate crisis before it's too late

[Image of a rhino with a carbon footprint sticker on it, next to a person eating a tomato ]

omg can u believe these billionaires are destroying the planet and making the rest of us pay for it? [GIF of a car with a exhaust pipe spewing out green smoke]

omg this is so messed up like literally the richest people are destroying the planet faster than anyone else! 4,000 times faster is CRAZY and i'm not surprised tbh, it's all about profits over people they're just sucking up all the resources and leaving us to deal with the consequences . governments need to step in ASAP and regulate this crazy disparity we can't keep relying on these billionaires to do the right thing when they're only looking out for themselves

I mean, can you even believe this? Like, those 308 billionaires are contributing to more pollution than whole countries ! It's insane that they get to drive around in SUVs, fly private jets, and invest in fossil fuel companies while the rest of us are just trying to breathe without choking on carbon emissions. The fact that almost 60% of their investments are in industries that are literally destroying the planet is just, like, wow... the greed is real . We need to take drastic action, for sure - taxing them into oblivion, banning their lobbying, and making sure they're not the ones deciding what's good for the planet. It's time for a new system, one that puts people over profits

OMG, can you believe this?! These ultra-rich individuals are literally destroying the planet! I mean, 4,000 times more CO2 emissions than everyone else is just crazy talk! It's like they're not even living on this planet anymore, they're just living in their own little bubble of privilege. And it's not just about them, it's about the poor and vulnerable countries that are already struggling to cope with climate change. The fact that 60% of billionaire investments are in mining and oil companies is just a slap in the face! We need to take drastic action now, like taxing their wealth and banning their lobbying. We can't let this tiny elite ruin our planet for everyone else!

It's crazy how these 400 billionaires are single-handedly destroying the planet Their carbon footprint is insane, I mean, who needs that many SUVs ? It's like they're competing in some kind of weird, eco-hostile Olympics #SaveThePlanet #ClimateActionNow

I'm so sick of seeing these ultra-rich guys getting off scot-free while the rest of us are stuck with the bill They need to start paying their fair share and stop investing in industries that harm the environment #TaxTheWealthy #BillionaireProblems

Globally, we're already seeing devastating effects of climate change And it's all because of these rich folks' reckless spending habits The report is spot on - governments need to take drastic action and hold them accountable #ClimateJustice #FairnessMatters

idk why ppl r so quick 2 blame rich folks 4 all climate issues . cant we just say most of us got lucky & some ppl actually worked hard 2 get where they are? its not fair 2 just villainize the wealthy 4 the actions of some who might b more concerned w/ their investments than the planet . btw, isnt it better 2 focus on solutions rather than pointing fingers?

u gotta be kiddin me, right? richest 0.1% emittin like a whole country's worth of co2 daily meanwhile somali citizens burn off like 82g daily that's some crazy disparity fam. it's like they think the planet's just their personal private playground & we're all just livin' in the consequences gotta get governments to step up & take action ASAP

I mean, can you even believe this?! The rich are literally suffocating the planet ! I'm talking 4,000 times more CO2 emissions per day than everyone else combined? It's like they're intentionally trying to destroy our home . And it gets worse - they're not just polluting, they're also lobbying and influencing governments to do nothing about it . Oxfam is right, we need to take drastic measures now, like taxing them into oblivion or banning their influence entirely . I mean, what's the point of having billionaires if you can't even trust them to not destroy the planet? It's like they're a cancer on society . And to think that 60% of their investments are in polluting industries... it's just sickening . We need to hold them accountable for this mess and fight for our future, or else we're doomed .

it's like, i get why ppl are riled up about this stuff... but sometimes i think we're focusing too much on the ultra-rich & not enough on the systemic issues that created this problem in the first place

i mean, 4,000 times more CO2 emissions than the poorest half of humanity is wild, no question. but what about the fact that these billionaires are basically forced into a zero-sum game where they either make their money or lose it? it's not like they're just being reckless with their wealth

and btw, have you seen the size of some of those private jets & mansions? it's insane! but is that really the problem here? can't we find a way to, like, tax them more or regulate industries they invest in?