Top 1% in Middle East and North Africa Emit Twice as Much Carbon as Poorest Half

Climate Inequality in the Middle East and North Africa

A recent report by Oxfam has revealed a stark disparity in carbon emissions between the wealthiest and the poorest populations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The findings highlight how the richest 1 percent of the population were responsible for 26 percent of the region’s carbon emissions in 2022, while the poorest half contributed only 10 percent. This imbalance underscores a growing global issue where those who contribute the least to climate change suffer the most from its consequences.

The report, titled Not Everyone is in the Same Boat: Climate and Inequality in the Middle East and North Africa, draws on research from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Oxfam. It emphasizes that the most vulnerable communities face increased risks such as water scarcity, food insecurity, and displacement due to climate breakdown. These challenges are exacerbated by the actions of the wealthy, who often remain insulated from the worst effects of environmental degradation.

The Super-Rich and Their Impact

The situation becomes even more concerning when looking at the super-rich. On average, individuals in the top 0.1 percent of the MENA population emitted 477 times more carbon than someone in the poorest half in 2022. This staggering difference highlights the extreme lifestyles of the elite, which include the use of superyachts, private jets, and other high-emission activities. For example, an average billionaire in the region emits as much in a single working day as an average person does in an entire year.

Some of the region’s billionaires have been found to fly private jets for over 1,300 hours annually, equivalent to circumnavigating the globe 42 times. Such figures illustrate the disproportionate impact of the wealthy on the environment, further intensifying the climate crisis.

Disproportionate Emissions and Consequences

The report also notes that the top 0.1 percent of the population—approximately 496,000 people—emits as much as the poorest 50 percent, which includes 248 million people. This inequality is not just a matter of wealth but also of environmental responsibility. The emissions generated by the rich are accelerating climate change, leading to severe consequences such as water shortages, land degradation, loss of arable farmland, rising sea levels, and epidemics.

In Egypt, for instance, 40 golf courses consume up to 1 billion cubic meters of water annually, enough to supply 54 million people with 50 liters of water per day. However, many Egyptians struggle to access even basic water needs. The MENA region has only one percent of the world’s renewable freshwater sources, yet the luxurious gardens and pools of the wealthy continue to drain these scarce resources.

Wealth and Emissions in the Region

The wealthiest countries in the MENA region also rank among the highest emitters per capita. Oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have amassed immense wealth for a small elite. In 2022, Saudi Arabia, with a population of 32 million, produced 34 percent of the region’s total greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, Sudan, with a population of 50 million, was responsible for nearly zero emissions.

This disparity is further compounded by decades of austerity policies and public spending cuts, which have worsened both the climate and inequality crises. Governments are either unwilling or unable to invest adequately in addressing the climate emergency. Meanwhile, the richest 1 percent in the MENA region hold 48 percent of the financial wealth, and tax evasion, exemptions, and privileges for elites further drain public funds needed for climate action.

Calls for Action

Oxfam’s report calls for urgent and bold policies targeting the wealthy and the inequality they perpetuate. It urges governments to implement progressive wealth and carbon taxes, ban luxury emissions such as private jets, and end harmful austerity policies. These measures aim to generate the estimated $570 billion required for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Without immediate and meaningful action, the MENA region will continue to face worsening climate catastrophes. As Oxfam MENA Regional Director Sally Abi Khalil emphasized, the wealthiest must be held accountable for their role in driving the climate crisis and should pay for the damage they cause. The time for change is now, and the need for equitable solutions has never been more urgent.