The richest 1% of humanity is responsible for more carbon emissions than the poorest 66% , with dire consequences for vulnerable communities and global efforts to tackle the climate emergency, according to a report by The Guardian1 . 

This elite group, consisting of 77 million people including billionaires, millionaires, and those earning more than US$140,000 a year, accounted for 16% of all CO2 emissions in 2019.

The report, produced in collaboration with Oxfam, the Stockholm Environment Institute, and other experts, highlights the disproportionate impact of the super-rich, termed "the polluter elite". 

It reveals that the emissions of the wealthiest 1% are enough to cause more than a million excess deaths due to heat. The study underscores the urgent need for climate justice and is expected to feature prominently at the UN Cop28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates.

The report's findings shed light on the stark gap between the carbon footprints of the super-rich and the rest of the global population , emphasizing the need for concerted action to address carbon inequality and its devastating impact on the planet and its inhabitants.