OMM Newsroom
According to AnewZ, Oxfam’s “Disaster Divide” report, published on October 27, 2026, says the world’s richest 0.1% — about 8 million people — generate more consumption-related carbon emissions than the poorest 3.5 billion people combined.
Based on data from the Stockholm Environment Institute, the analysis found that the richest 0.1% generate more consumption emissions than the poorest 44% of the world’s population.
In its calculations for 2023, the report put annual carbon dioxide emissions per person at an average of 75.1 tonnes for the richest 1%, compared with 0.8 tonnes for the poorest half. This means per capita emissions among the richest 1% were about 94 times higher.
Overall, the richest 1% were responsible for 16.6% of global consumption emissions, while the poorest half accounted for 8.4%. These figures do not include additional carbon footprints linked to company ownership and investment portfolios.
Private jets and billionaires’ investments
Oxfam estimates that private jets generated about 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2025. Each flight emitted an average of 3.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The report says this is close to the amount an average person produces over an entire year.
About 250,000 people worldwide are estimated to use private jets, equivalent to just 0.003% of the global population.
Oxfam examined the investments of 1,000 billionaires in 1,095 companies. According to the report, their stakes in these companies were linked to 486 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2025. That amounts to an average of 486,000 tonnes per billionaire; among the 100 people with the highest emissions, the figure exceeds 4 million tonnes per person.
Using S&P Global data, Oxfam also estimated that the annual environmental damage associated with these investments amounted to $181 billion.
The economic cost of climate disasters
The report says extreme heat, changes in rainfall patterns and disrupted harvests can drive up food prices, hitting families already struggling to meet their basic needs hardest.
Food accounts for 38.6% of household spending in lower-middle-income economies, 29% in upper-middle-income economies and 15% in high-income economies.
The report cites the impact of extreme weather on cocoa production in West Africa in 2024, when prices rose by about 231% year on year. It also highlights weather-related disruptions in major coffee-producing countries.
Forecasts cited by Oxfam suggest the global disaster recovery market could grow from $70 billion a year to $92 billion by 2029.
The report’s “Rebuild and Destroy” index covers 217 companies involved in climate-related damage, disaster preparedness and recovery. Oxfam says BlackRock and Vanguard hold stakes in 92% of these companies, with their combined investments exceeding $1 trillion.
Oxfam warns that low-income families are more exposed to the financial consequences of extreme weather and often lack the means to pay for insurance, relocation or home repairs.
Research cited in the report found that deaths linked to floods are seven times higher in countries with greater inequality. Oxfam also estimates that the emissions generated by the richest 1% in one year could lead to 1.9 million additional heat-related deaths over time. This is a model-based projection, not a count of recorded deaths.
Oxfam is calling for stronger disaster protection and greater investment in climate adaptation. The organization warns that without action, the world’s most vulnerable communities will continue to bear a disproportionate share of the costs.
