TOP 10% OF CONSUMERS CAUSE $5.7TN ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE YEARLY

The environmental damage caused by the highest-consuming 10% of the world's population reaches up to $5.7tn annually, according to a study. The figure exceeds the total economic output of every country except the United States and China, researchers found. The damage bill encompasses climate and biodiversity costs linked to food and energy consumption. The study concentrated on identifying the environmental costs generated by what researchers termed "mega-consumers".

The highest-consuming 10% are predominantly located in the global north, the research established. This group's consumption patterns generate costs through greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and ecosystem damage tied to their food and energy usage. The scale of these costs reflects the environmental footprint associated with high-consumption lifestyles in wealthy nations. Researchers calculated these figures by assessing the ecological impact of goods and services consumed by this population segment.

The study underscores the concentration of environmental impact among a small proportion of the global population. Researchers presented these findings to highlight the disparity between consumption levels and their environmental consequences. The analysis suggests that consumption patterns in wealthy economies generate substantial externalities that are not reflected in market prices. The research provides a quantified measure of how consumption choices by affluent populations translate into measurable environmental costs.