Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In a startling revelation, a recent report by Oxfam has highlighted the disproportionate environmental impact of Mexico’s wealthiest individuals. The report, published in conjunction with the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, reveals that in 2019, the richest 1% in Mexico were responsible for more than 80% of the country’s pollution. This figure is particularly striking given that from 2000 to 2019, this affluent segment doubled its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while the rest of the population reduced theirs by 30%.
Oxfam Mexico’s executive director, Alexandra Haas, emphasized the increasing environmental burden shouldered by this affluent minority. “In other words, the 1% pollutes more and is the only group that pollutes more today than 20 years ago,” Haas explained. The organization advocates for a tax on the wealthiest as a crucial step in addressing and mitigating both the current crisis and CO2 emissions.
The report also draws a direct link between climate change and recent natural disasters in Mexico. For instance, almost a month ago, Hurricane Otis ravaged the southern state of Guerrero, leaving 49 dead and 32 missing. This category 5 cyclone, which damaged 250,000 homes, represents the intensifying nature of such weather events.
Haas pointed out the disproportionate impact of climate-related disasters on the less affluent. “Those who have the least lost the most,” she noted, underscoring the intertwined nature of climate and inequality crises. “Where will the money come from to face the emergencies intensified by the climate crisis?” she questioned, highlighting the urgent need for resources to address emergencies, rebuild, and prepare for future disasters.
The Oxfam report also casts a global perspective, noting that in 2019, the world’s richest 1% produced the same amount of carbon emissions as the poorest two-thirds of the global population, comprising 5 billion people. These “excessive” emissions are projected to cause 1.3 million more heat-related deaths than expected, most of which will occur between 2020 and 2030.
Oxfam International’s acting executive director criticized the wealthiest for their role in exacerbating the climate crisis, stating, “The richest are destroying the planet, plundering it and polluting it, while extreme heat, floods, and droughts suffocate humanity.”
In response, Oxfam is urging governments worldwide to combat inequality through global income redistribution, a swift move away from fossil fuels, and prioritizing the well-being of people and the planet over profit-seeking and consumption. The report, titled ‘Climate Equality: A Planet for the 99%’, is based on research conducted by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). It analyzes emissions linked to the consumption habits of various income groups in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - In a startling revelation, a recent report by Oxfam has highlighted the disproportionate environmental impact of Mexico's wealthiest individuals. The . . .
