Study Reveals Wealthiest 10% Responsible for Two-Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change highlights that the wealthiest 10% of individuals globally, particularly in the USA and China, are responsible for two-thirds of global warming since 1990. Conducted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the research underscores the significant impact of affluent individuals' consumption and investments on climate change. The study reveals that the top 1% of earners have contributed disproportionately to climate extremes, such as increased heat events and Amazon droughts, compared to the global average. Lead author Sarah Schöngart from ETH Zurich emphasizes that lifestyle and investment choices linked to wealth are major contributors to climate impacts. The research utilized a novel modeling framework combining economic data and climate simulations to trace emissions from different global income groups, finding that emissions from the wealthiest 10% led to a two- to threefold increase in heat extremes across vulnerable regions. 
