The super-rich are killing us. Not just figuratively, but literally.
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Climate change is overwhelmingly a problem of wealthy people. The wealthiest 1% of humanity produce over 1,000 times the emissions of the poorest 1%. In fact, these 77 million people are responsible for more climate-changing emissions than the poorest 66% (5 billion people) of humanity.

Since 1990, the personal emissions of the world’s wealthiest have exploded. They are now 77 times larger than the level that would be compatible with a 1.5°C warming limit.

Who are these super-polluters? The richest 1% are billionaires, millionaires and people earning over US$140,000 (£110,000). The threshold to join the rarefied club of the top 10% is US$41,000 (£32,000), including most of the middle class in wealthier countries.

But the super-rich are responsible for climate change well beyond consumption-based emissions. The super-rich, by and large, run major companies, direct investments and shape national and international laws. They have an oversized and controlling impact on our media and public opinion, including through advertising and ownership of media outlets. And they directly shape policy through lobbying and paid-for influence.

While their money and power make them overwhelmingly responsible for climate change, they are also insulated from the worst impacts. They are less affected by increased food prices and climate disasters, can afford insurance and to move from one place to another, and have greater resources to draw on in times of crisis.

It is the poorest – those least responsible for climate changing emissions – who suffer the most. They suffer higher losses, live in the most impacted regions, and have little to no access to savings, public support or welfare when crisis strikes. They are also least able to exercise their rights as they are the least powerful and less well represented politically.

It would take approximately 1,500 years for someone in the bottom 99% to produce as much carbon as a single billionaire does in a year.
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The choice is very simple. Either we can have a livable biosphere or we can have billionaires. But we can't have both.

FULL ARTICLE -- https://theconversation.com/emissions-inequality-is-getting-worse-heres-how-to-end-the-reign-of-the-ultra-polluters-218308

#Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Capitalism

“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed.”

― Herman Melville

COP = Conference Of Polluters

#COP28

When you look at the DNA of Israeli Jews and Palestinians, you see that they have a common ancestry. That suggests that, long ago, there was one group of people living in what's now Israel/Palestine, some of whom were forced into exile and some of whom managed to stay on their land.

https://www.science.org/content/article/jews-and-arabs-share-recent-ancestry

OMG I LOVE THIS: The Biden Administration has announced $8.2 billion in new funding for high-speed rail and other passenger train projects – including a high-speed electric train connecting Los Angeles to Las Vegas, with another from LA to San Francisco eventually in the works.

YES! North America needs high-speed electric rail. Here's hoping they extend the California line all the way north to Vancouver! 🚅

https://www.axios.com/2023/12/08/high-speed-rail-white-house

#trains #environment #transportation #sustainability #EV