The poorest half of the world's population – around 3.5 billion people - is responsible for just 10 per cent of pollution, despite being the most threatened by catastrophic storms, droughts, and other severe weather shocks linked to climate change.

These are the findings of a new Oxfam report, released during the ongoing climate talks in Paris, which also shows the world's richest 10 per cent produce around half of all emissions.

Protests were held in Tauranga at the weekend protesting the need for better policies surrounding carbon emissions. Photo: File.

The Oxfam report "Extreme Carbon Inequality" provides new estimates of the lifestyle consumption emissions of rich and poor citizens in different countries.

While negotiators might be working to reach an agreement based on the total emissions produced by their respective countries, this analysis helps dispel the myth that citizens in rapidly developing countries are somehow mostly to blame for climate change.

While emissions are rising fastest in developing countries, much of this is for the production of goods consumed in other countries, meaning that the emissions associated with the lifestyle of the vast majority of their citizens are still far lower than their counterparts in developed countries.

Oxfam New Zealand's Executive Director, Rachael Le Mesurier, says: 'Climate change and economic inequality are inextricably linked and together pose one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

'Paris must be the start of building a more human economy for all - not just for the ‘haves', the richest and highest emitters, but also the ‘have-nots', the poorest people who are the least responsible for and most vulnerable to climate change, including our Pacific neighbours."

According to the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, the average New Zealander produces 16.6 tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year, making us the fifth-worst polluters in the OECD.

To put that into perspective, the average Indian produces 1.7 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The report makes clear the extent of this inequality in emissions responsibility - globally, within and between countries.

'Rich, high emitters should be held accountable for their emissions, no matter where they live,” says Rachael.

'But it's easy to forget that rapidly developing economies are also home to the majority of the world's very poorest people and while they have to do their fair share, it is rich countries that should still lead the way.”

According to the report, the only people who benefit from the status quo and who stand to gain from a weak deal in Paris is a select group of billionaires, who have made many of their fortunes in the fossil fuel industry, she says.