Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
‘The rich are on course to destroy all our lives’
World’s wealthiest 1% have already burned through their share of the entire annual carbon limit, Oxfam warns
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, January 7, 2025

THE world’s wealthiest 1 per cent have already burned through their share of the entire annual carbon limit, a damning analysis of super-rich climate destruction has revealed.

A new study by charity Oxfam has analysed the “global carbon budget” — the amount of CO2 that can be emitted without exceeding the international target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Its findings showed that while the richest capitalists had already exceeded that limit in the first 10 days of 2025, it would take someone from the poorest half of the global population nearly three years to use up their share.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Relatives console Muna Khadka, center, who lost her son Aayush Khadka in flash floods, at a cremation ground in Chitwan, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026
Environment / 4 September 2026
4 September 2026

The glacier collapse in Nepal is yet another warning that a warming planet is making Himalayan disasters more frequent and destructive – but the countries facing the greatest risks are often those least responsible, says LI YANG

UNITED VOICE REQUIRED: Workers stand up, yesterday, to the management of Volkswagen plant in Zwickau, Germany with slogans: ‘fighting for the future,’ and ‘exclusion,’ ‘job insecurity’ (strips attached to the scythe) / Pic: Jan Woitas/dpa via AP
Climate Crisis / 11 July 2026
11 July 2026

The future does not have to be climate chaos and social breakdown. MARC VANDEPITTE looks at the alternatives offered by the Global Justice Report, co-authored by Thomas Piketty

 

Attendees listen to Brazil’s President Lula during Cop30
Features / 18 November 2025
18 November 2025

From summit to summit, imperialist companies and governments cut, delay or water down their commitments, warn the Communist Parties of Britain, France, Portugal and Spain and the Workers Party of Belgium in a joint statement on Cop30