“The inequality is just insane,” the lead author of the study tells Carbon Brief. “If we want to reduce our carbon emissions, we really need to do something about the consumption patterns of the super-rich.”

A scientist not involved in the research says that “we often hear that actions taken in Europe or the US are meaningless when compared to the industrial emissions of China, or the effects of rapid population growth in Africa. This paper exposes these claims as wilfully ignorant, at best”.

The graph in the article that illustrates the difference is incredible. Probably not news to most of us on here, but the challenge to attain environmental sustainability is massive, since the “1%” aren’t going to let themselves be priced away from their luxuries that produce such a massive and dangerous carbon footprint.