Live Feeds
● LIVE Updated 30d ago · 28 sources tracked

World's Richest 10% Are Costing Earth Trillions, Study Finds

The world's wealthiest 10% of consumers generate trillions of dollars in yearly environmental costs. These expenses surpass global funding for climate and biodiversity. The United States leads this damage.

RSS Source map (25)

What changed

New data identifies the U.S. as a leader in these costs and highlights the disproportionate role of the top 0.01%.

Live updates

  1. Richest 10% Cause Up to $5.7 Trillion in Annual Environmental Damage

    The world's wealthiest 10% of consumers generate trillions of dollars in yearly environmental costs. These expenses surpass global funding for climate and biodiversity. The United States leads this damage.

    What's confirmed:

    • The world's top 10% of consumers are responsible for up to $5.7 trillion in annual environmental damage.
    • Environmental costs from the wealthiest 10% exceed global climate and biodiversity funding needs.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The United States leads the wealthiest 10% in causing environmental damage.
    • The top 0.01% are disproportionately responsible for the environmental damage attributed to the top 10%.
    confidence 90%

  2. Wealthiest 10% Cause Up to $5.7 Trillion in Annual Eco-Damage

    A study from Oxford and Leiden indicates the world's richest 10% cause between $1.7 trillion and $5.7 trillion in yearly environmental damage. These costs exceed combined international commitments for biodiversity and climate action. Biodiversity loss represents the largest portion of these expenses.

    What's confirmed:

    • The world's wealthiest 10% are responsible for between $1.7 trillion and $5.7 trillion in annual environmental damage.
    • Environmental damage costs at central and upper estimates are several times higher than international commitments for climate action and biodiversity conservation combined.
    • Biodiversity loss is the largest component of these environmental costs.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • U.S. consumers face the highest bills for this environmental damage.
    • The study was conducted by Oxford and Leiden.
    confidence 90%

  3. Top 10% of Global Consumers Cause Up to $5.7 Trillion in Annual Damage

    A study published in Communications Sustainability finds the world's top 10% of consumers cause $1.7 trillion to $5.7 trillion in annual environmental damage. This amount exceeds global climate and biodiversity financing gaps. Biodiversity loss is the largest single component of these costs.

    What's confirmed:

    • The world's top 10% of consumers cause between $1.7 trillion and $5.7 trillion in environmental damage annually.
    • Environmental damages from the top 10% of consumers exceed global climate and biodiversity funding gaps.
    • Biodiversity loss accounts for 47-56% of the total damage bill.
    • Climate change accounts for 36-45% of the total damage bill.
    • The top 10% of US consumers face a bill between $19k and $63k per person, representing 6-20% of their income or 0.8-3% of their wealth.
    • The study was conducted by researchers at the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford and Leiden University.
    • The research was published in Communications Sustainability.
    confidence 100%