The Climate Crisis is a Global, Yet Unequal Problem
Dursun Yıldız
Hydropolitics Academy Center
The climate crisis is a shared problem, but it is also highly unequal. Figure 1 shows that the poorest half of the global population accounts for only 3% of carbon emissions associated with capital ownership, while the wealthiest 10% account for 77% of emissions. The richest 1% alone account for 41% of emissions attributable to capital ownership, nearly twice the total emissions of the bottom 90%. This inequality is closely related to the vulnerability of some groups to the climate crisis.
The populations in low-income countries produce the lowest emissions but are most exposed. On the other hand, those who produce the most emissions are better protected because they have the resources necessary to adapt to or avoid the consequences of climate change. This unequal distribution of responsibility for the climate crisis entails an unequal distribution of the associated risks.
Climate inequality is both an environmental and a social crisis.
Within countries, the impacts of climate change also risk worsening inequality. Climate risks disproportionately affect the poorest countries and people, who are more exposed and more vulnerable to their impacts.
To read the climate inequality report, please click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Climate_Inequality_Report_2025_Final.pdf
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The Climate Crisis is a Global, Yet Unequal Problem
Dursun Yıldız
Hydropolitics Academy Center
The climate crisis is a shared problem, but it is also highly unequal. Figure 1 shows that the poorest half of the global population accounts for only 3% of carbon emissions associated with capital ownership, while the wealthiest 10% account for 77% of emissions. The richest 1% alone account for 41% of emissions attributable to capital ownership, nearly twice the total emissions of the bottom 90%. This inequality is closely related to the vulnerability of some groups to the climate crisis.
The populations in low-income countries produce the lowest emissions but are most exposed. On the other hand, those who produce the most emissions are better protected because they have the resources necessary to adapt to or avoid the consequences of climate change. This unequal distribution of responsibility for the climate crisis entails an unequal distribution of the associated risks.
Climate inequality is both an environmental and a social crisis.
Within countries, the impacts of climate change also risk worsening inequality. Climate risks disproportionately affect the poorest countries and people, who are more exposed and more vulnerable to their impacts.
To read the climate inequality report, please click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Climate_Inequality_Report_2025_Final.pdf
^
