‘Tiny elite has free pass to pollute’: Richest one per cent must cut emissions by 97 per cent, says study

On average, every person on Earth needs to halve their carbon footprint by 2030, the study finds, as Jane Dalton explains

Emissions from superyachts, space travel and private jets are under fire (Getty Images)

The carbon footprints of the richest one per cent on Earth in 2030 will be 30 times greater than the level compatible with the 1.5C Paris Agreement goal, researchers predict.

The world’s wealthiest would need to cut their emissions by around 97 per cent compared with when the Paris deal was signed in 2015, the study commissioned by Oxfam concludes.

The charity says a “tiny elite appear to have a free pass to pollute”.