The richest 10% of the global population has been responsible for two-thirds of the observed global warming since 1990 and the associated rise in extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts, according to a new study published in Nature.

Using a novel model that combined economic data with climate simulations, researchers were able to trace emissions from different global income groups and assess their specific contributions to extreme climate events.

They found that emissions from the wealthiest 10% of individuals—particularly those in the United States and China—led to a two- to threefold increase in extreme temperatures in vulnerable regions.

The effects are especially severe in fragile tropical areas such as the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and southern Africa—regions that have historically contributed far less to global greenhouse gas emissions.

The study also found that the top 1% of the world’s wealthiest individuals contributed 26 times more than the global average to the rise in monthly extreme temperatures, and 17 times more to drought conditions in the Amazon.

In addition to personal consumption, the study highlights the significance of emissions linked to financial investments and capital holdings.

The authors argue that targeting the financial flows and portfolios of high-income individuals could result in substantial climate benefits.

They emphasize that redistributing responsibility for climate action according to actual emissions contributions is essential—not only to slow down global warming but also to build a fairer and more resilient world.