‘Luxury carbon consumption’ of top 1% threatens 1.5C global heating limit

Richest 1% will account for 16% of total emissions by 2030, while poorest 50% will release one tonne of CO₂ a year

The carbon dioxide emissions of the richest 1% of humanity are on track to be 30 times greater than what is compatible with keeping global heating below 1.5C, new research warns, as scientists urge governments to constrain luxury carbon consumption" of private jets, megayachts and space travel.

In keeping with the Paris climate goals, every person on Earth needs to reduce their CO₂ emissions to an average of 2.3 tonnes by 2030, about half the average of today.