An Oxfam study, Carbon Inequality Kills, exposes the massive carbon footprint of the richest 50 billionaires, who, on average, produce more carbon in just over an hour through their private jets, superyachts, and polluting investments than the average person emits in a lifetime.

David Abudho, Oxfam’s Climate Advisor for Africa, explained the devastating effects of this disparity in an interview with Channel Africa.

"What they emit in one and a half hours is more than what an average person emits in their entire lifetime," he stated.

This inequality extends beyond emissions, as the ultra-wealthy consume a disproportionate share of the planet's resources while poorer communities bear the brunt of climate impacts.

Call for taxing the wealthy to fund climate adaptation

The report underscores the urgency of holding the rich accountable through taxation.

Abudho advocates for significant carbon taxes on luxury assets such as private jets and yachts, making it costly for the wealthy to engage in high-carbon activities.

"We need to make the rich pollutants pay. Taxing the rich is the most practical way to unlock additional financing," he argued.

Oxfam and other civil society organisations argue that taxes on the super-wealthy could generate essential funds to support vulnerable communities, particularly in Africa, where many nations struggle with climate-induced challenges despite contributing only 4% to global emissions.

Historical debt and the need for climate reparations

As climate change exacerbates inequality, African nations face disproportionate impacts, ranging from severe droughts to frequent cyclones, despite having minimal responsibility for the crisis.

Abudho called for "climate reparations," stressing the need for wealthy nations to acknowledge their historical carbon debt. Oxfam is advocating for a substantial climate finance goal—up to $1.5 trillion annually—to support adaptation efforts in frontline communities.

A $100 billion annual climate finance commitment made a decade ago by developed countries remains largely unmet. Even more troubling, Abudho explained, is that some rich nations have reported loans as climate finance, creating further debt for vulnerable countries.

"The rich nations’ reporting practices are problematic, especially for African countries burdened by fiscal debt," he added.

The re-imagined climate financing framework that Oxfam envisions includes genuine, public, and accessible funds to address the climate emergency’s unique threats to developing nations.

Inequities in climate funding

The current climate finance gap leaves Africa especially vulnerable. In 2022, only $20-30 billion was allocated globally for climate adaptation, far short of the necessary funds.

Abudho noted the record-breaking droughts that have devastated southern Africa, calling this level of aid “completely unacceptable.”

Extreme weather patterns, including unprecedented droughts in East and Southern Africa, demonstrate the urgency of adequate funding.

He warned that rising temperatures—2023 marked the hottest year in recorded history—will likely drive more severe climate events, heightening the need for decisive action.

As delegates discuss solutions in Azerbaijan, Abudho urged global leaders to make meaningful commitments to phase out fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy.

This phase-out, he argues, is essential to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and to prevent what he called "a path to self-destruction."

"The time to act is now," Abudho concluded, emphasising that leaders must acknowledge their responsibility in addressing climate inequality and take definitive steps toward a sustainable, just future.

--ChannelAfrica--