A study by Oxfam into the emissions of the world’s super-rich has found that the use of private jets and superyachts combined with high-polluting investments are accelerating climate breakdown and wreaking havoc on lives and economies around the world.

The research found that the world’s 50 richest billionaires took on average 184 private jet flights in a single year, spending 425 hours in the air and producing as much carbon as the average person would in 300 years. Their luxury yachts emitted as much carbon as the average person would in 860 years, according to the report.

Chiara Liguori, Oxfam’s senior climate justice policy advisor, said:

“Most of the super-rich are treating our planet like their personal playground, setting it ablaze for pleasure and profit.”

Ahead of the Labour government’s first budget statement Oxfam is calling on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to increase taxes on “climate-polluting extreme wealth”, starting with private jets and superyachts, to raise funds which could be used to tackle the climate crisis.

The report found that if all people used private jets and superyachts as much as the group of ultra-wealthy individuals highlighted in the report, the world would breach its climate targets in two days rather than current estimates of four years if carbon emissions remain as they are today.

However, it is their investments in fossil fuels which creates even greater damage, according to the report. It found that the investments made by this group created around 340 times more emissions than from their private jets and superyachts combined.

Liguori says:

“The evidence is clear: the extreme emissions of the richest, from their luxury lifestyles and even more from their polluting investments, are fueling inequality, hunger and threatening lives. It’s not just unfair that their reckless pollution is fueling the very crisis threatening our collective future —it’s lethal.”

“This report shows that fairer taxes on extreme wealth are crucial to accelerate climate action and fight inequality – starting with private jets and superyachts. It’s clear these luxury toys aren’t just symbols of excess; they’re a direct threat to people and the planet.”

The study into both the luxury transport and polluting investments of billionaires, believed to be the first of its kind, found that the ultra-wealthy billionaires are responsible for causing economic losses of trillions of dollars as well as contributing to huge crop losses and millions of excess deaths because the impacts of the climate crisis are disproportionately felt by low-income countries and communities.

The carbon emissions of the world’s richest 1% have caused global economic output to drop by $2.9 trillion since 1990, according to Oxfam. It found that low- and lower-middle-income countries are expected to lose about 2.5% of their cumulative GDP between 1990 and 2050 due to the impact of the climate crisis while high-income countries are likely to accrue economic gains, it said.

UK business confidence has dipped to a four-month low in October, a new survey has shown.

Firms are less optimistic about their own trading prospects, and wider economic optimism, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer.

The net balance of optimism towards the economy slipped three points to 35%, the lowest since March, Lloyds reports. In October, 55% of businesses felt more confident about the economy than three months ago (down from 57%), while 20% were less positive (up from 19%).

Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist at Lloyds Commercial Banking, said:

“Although overall business confidence dipped in October, it follows a sustained period of significant optimism, and business sentiment remains above historical levels. Encouragingly, many businesses remain confident in their own trading prospects, and the increase in hiring intentions suggests more employers want to grow their workforce.

“Businesses’ broader economic outlook continues to reflect this rounded picture, and as they move into the final part of the year, they will look to manage these considerations effectively.”

This is the latest in a string of surveys showing a drop in consumer and business morale in recent weeks, as the government has signalled that this week’s budget will be a tough affair.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to talk about “the harsh light of fiscal reality” in a speech today, and the need to run towards “tough decisions”…

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The oil price is sliding today, on relief that Israel’s attack on Iran last weekend avoided striking energy facilities.

Brent crude has sunk by over 4% this morning, dropping as low as $72 per barrel at one point, its weakest since 1st October – the day that Iran launched its large missile attack on Israel.

Oil is selling off, despite initial fears that Israel’s direct, retaliatory, airstrikes against military targets in Iran on Saturday morning could bring the Middle East closer to a full-scale regional war. The Israeli air force struck about 20 military bases across Iran, including missile and drone manufacturing sites and air defence systems.

Traders, it seems, are relieved that Israel avoided hitting Iranian oil production facilities, which would have removed some supplies from the market.

There are also hopes that Israel’s latest strikes on Iran will mark the end of a months-long cycle of escalation, with US President Joe Biden telling reporters “I hope this is the end.”

Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said yesterday that Tehran was not looking for a war but would respond “appropriately” to Israel’s strikes.

Pezeshkian told a cabinet meeting on Sunday:

“We do not seek war but we will defend the rights of our nation and country,”

The fact Iran hasn’t vowed to respond is “a clear sign of de-escalation – or at least not a re-escalation – of the tensions in the region”, says Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, adding:

As such, the geopolitical tensions that were keeping the oil bulls on alert near the $70 per barrel level has gone up in smoke.

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