Meghan Hodges
The amount of pollution generated by a person over their lifetime varies depending on their income, location, and lifestyle. According to the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the richest 1% of the world's population, or 77 million people, were responsible for 16% of global consumption emissions in 2019. This is more than all car and road transport emissions and is equivalent to the emissions of the poorest two-thirds of humanity (approximately five billion people). The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world, while the global average is closer to 4 tons. Individual emissions can be broadly categorized into household consumption, personal transport, and emissions embodied in consumed goods and services. While individual actions can make a difference, the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by industries and large-scale commercial activities, with 70% of carbon dioxide emissions stemming from just 100 companies worldwide.
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What You'll Learn
Billionaires' emissions: 90 minutes vs a lifetime
According to Oxfam International, the world's billionaires emit more carbon pollution in 90 minutes than the average person does in their entire lifetime. The report, titled "Carbon Inequality Kills", is the first of its kind to examine the luxury transport and polluting investments of billionaires. It reveals that the emissions of the richest are accelerating climate breakdown and exacerbating inequality, hunger, and death worldwide.
The study found that the 50 richest billionaires in the world took an average of 184 private jet flights in a year, spending 425 hours in the air. These flights produced as much carbon as the average person would in 300 years. In the same period, their yachts emitted as much carbon as the average person would in 860 years. Jeff Bezos, one of the world's richest people, operated two private jets that spent nearly 25 days in the air over a year, emitting as much carbon as the average US Amazon employee would in 207 years.
The billionaires' investments also contribute significantly to emissions. The average investment emissions of these 50 billionaires were around 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents, which is approximately 340 times their emissions from private jets and superyachts combined. These investments are primarily in highly polluting industries such as oil, mining, shipping, and cement. Gautam Adani is the only billionaire mentioned in the study with significant investments in renewable energy, accounting for 18% of his overall investment portfolio.
The disparities in carbon emissions between the rich and poor are stark. The top 1% of emitters globally each had carbon footprints of over 50 tonnes of CO2 in 2021, more than 1000 times greater than those of the bottom 1% of emitters. The global average energy-related carbon footprint is around 4.7 tonnes of CO2 per person. Additionally, aviation-related emissions highlight the inequality, with around 90% of the global population flying once a year or not at all, while just 1% fly more than five times a year. The carbon budget, which is the amount of CO2 that can be added to the atmosphere without causing temperatures to rise above 1.5°C, will be depleted in about four years if current emissions trends continue.
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Top 1% emitters: 1,000x more CO2
The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons. To have the best chance of avoiding a 2°C rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050.
However, the top 1% of emitters globally each had carbon footprints of over 50 tons of CO2 in 2021, more than 1,000 times greater than those of the bottom 1% of emitters. The global average energy-related carbon footprint is around 4.7 tons of CO2 per person, which is the equivalent of taking two round-trip flights between Singapore and New York, or driving an average SUV for 18 months. These large disparities are due to differences in income and wealth, lifestyles, and consumption patterns.
In 2021, the average North American emitted 11 times more energy-related CO2 than the average African. Wealth, energy use, and the consumption of goods and services are unevenly distributed across the world, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are no exception. Emissions vary across countries and generations, but even more so across income groups.
The top 10% of emitters were responsible for almost half of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021, compared with a mere 0.2% for the bottom 10%. The top 10% averaged 22 tons of CO2 per capita in 2021, over 200 times more than the average for the bottom 10%. The richest 0.1% of the world's population emitted 10 times more than all the rest of the richest 10% combined, exceeding a total footprint of 200 tons of CO2 per capita annually. This group includes billionaires and multimillionaires whose emissions-intensive super-yachts, private jets, and mansions have attracted the attention of climate activists.
Individual emissions can be broken down into household consumption (all electricity and fuel use within the residence), personal transport (passenger and non-freight use of road, rail, aviation, and shipping), and emissions embodied in the goods and services consumed. While household heat and electricity consumption is relatively uniform across income groups, energy related to personal transport sees particularly high disparities across major economies. Within transport, aviation-related emissions are especially unequal. Around 90% of the global population flies only once a year or not at all, whereas around 6% fly more than twice a year and just 1% fly more than five times a year.
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Average carbon footprint: 4.7 tonnes CO2
The average carbon footprint per person is 4 tonnes, with the average US citizen's carbon footprint being 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. The UK's average carbon footprint is 12.7 tonnes, and the global average is 6.8 tonnes.
The carbon footprint of an individual in the US is more than double the global average. Food accounts for 10-30% of a household's carbon footprint, with this percentage being higher in lower-income households. Meat products have larger carbon footprints per calorie than grain or vegetable products due to the inefficient conversion of plant to animal energy and methane released from manure management and enteric fermentation in ruminants. Livestock emitted 192.6 million tonnes of methane in 2022 from enteric fermentation, with 71% of this coming from beef cattle.
Diets from the top 20% of income earners in the US accounted for 7.9 times the GHG emissions as those from the bottom 20% of diets. The richest 1% of the world's population produced as much carbon pollution in 2019 as the poorest five billion people, according to an Oxfam report. The richest 1% were responsible for 16% of global consumption emissions in 2019, more than all car and road transport emissions.
To avoid a 2°C rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050. Lowering individual carbon footprints can be achieved through small changes such as eating less meat, taking fewer connecting flights, and line-drying clothes.
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Carbon inequality: super-rich lifestyles
Carbon inequality refers to the disparity in carbon emissions between the rich and the poor. This inequality is driven by the high-energy consumption lifestyles of the super-rich, which include private jets, superyachts, mansions, space flights, and investments in polluting industries. According to a recent Oxfam report, the richest 1% of the world's population, approximately 77 million people, produced as much carbon pollution in 2019 as the five billion people who made up the poorest two-thirds of humanity. This elite group, which includes billionaires, millionaires, and high-income individuals, accounted for 16% of global CO2 emissions in 2019, contributing to over a million heat-related excess deaths.
The carbon inequality gap is evident within and between countries. In the United States, the richest decile emits over 55 tonnes of CO2 per capita annually, with road transport accounting for a significant portion. Similarly, in the European Union, the richest decile emits around 24 tonnes of CO2 per capita. In contrast, the global average carbon footprint is around 4.7 tonnes of CO2 per person. The bottom 1% of emitters have carbon footprints of less than 0.05 tonnes of CO2 per person, highlighting the stark contrast between the super-rich and the poorest.
The extravagant lifestyles of the super-rich have dire consequences for vulnerable communities and global efforts to address climate change. Their disproportionate emissions contribute to rising global temperatures, exacerbating the impacts of climate breakdown, such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts. Additionally, the political and economic influence of the super-rich often hinders progress in climate policy, as they lobby to protect their interests and resist significant changes to their lifestyles. This influence further perpetuates carbon inequality and delays the transition to renewable energy sources.
To address carbon inequality and mitigate climate change, various measures have been proposed. Oxfam and other organizations advocate for wealth taxes on the super-rich, windfall taxes on fossil fuel companies, and a shift towards renewable energy. By taxing the incomes of the wealthiest 1%, it is estimated that significant emission reductions can be achieved, even exceeding the total emissions of some countries. Additionally, a global redistribution of incomes can help provide a minimum daily income for those in poverty while reducing global emissions.
It is important to recognize that individual actions also play a role in reducing carbon inequality. Small changes, such as eating less meat, taking fewer flights, and adopting energy-efficient practices, can collectively make a significant difference in lowering carbon footprints. However, it is the responsibility of those with the highest carbon footprints, the super-rich, to make the most significant changes to their lifestyles and reduce their emissions. This includes reducing their consumption, investing in sustainable alternatives, and advocating for policies that prioritize planetary well-being over endless profit.
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Individual efforts: impact of personal choices
While individual efforts to reduce carbon emissions are important, it's worth noting that the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by industries and large-scale commercial activities, with around 70% of carbon dioxide emissions stemming from just 100 companies worldwide. However, individual actions do have an impact, especially when collectively adopted.
The carbon footprint of an individual varies depending on their income, location, and lifestyle choices. For example, the average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world, with the lifetime carbon footprint of an average American exceeding 20 tons. In contrast, the global average is around 4 tons, with individuals in France and India having significantly lower carbon footprints at 5 and 0.2 tons, respectively.
Income inequality is also reflected in carbon inequality, with the top 1% of emitters globally responsible for a disproportionate amount of CO2 emissions per person. In 2021, the top 1% emitted over 50 tons of CO2, more than 1000 times greater than those of the bottom 1%. The richest 1% were responsible for 16% of global consumption emissions in 2019, more than all car and road transport emissions, and their emissions cancel out the carbon savings of nearly one million wind turbines each year.
Personal transport, particularly aviation, contributes significantly to individual carbon footprints. While around 90% of the global population flies once a year or less, the remaining 10% contributes disproportionately to emissions, with passengers in premium classes consuming three times more oil than those in economy. Similarly, road transport makes up a high share of the carbon footprint of the richest decile in the United States.
To reduce individual carbon footprints, small changes can be made, such as eating less meat, taking fewer connecting flights, and line-drying clothes. These collective actions can create a ripple effect, influencing larger entities and prompting policy changes toward sustainability and a cleaner, safer, and healthier planet.
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Frequently asked questions
The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons.
Individual emissions can be broken down into household consumption, personal transport, and emissions embodied in consumed goods and services.
The top 1% of emitters globally each had carbon footprints of over 50 tons of CO2 in 2021, more than 1,000 times greater than those of the bottom 1% of emitters. The richest 1% of the world's population produced as much carbon pollution in 2019 as the five billion people who made up the poorest two-thirds of humanity.
