Half of the world's CO2 emissions come from 36 companies

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A new climate report has found that 36 major fossil fuel companies are responsible for releasing more than twenty billion tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. These companies include world-famous giants Saudi Aramco, Coal India, ExxonMobil, Shell and many Chinese companies.

By far the biggest polluter is Saudi Aramco which is even the fourth biggest polluter in the world after China, USA and India. According to available data ExxonMobil is responsible for the same amount of emissions as the whole of Germany, making it the ninth largest producer of emissions in the world.

Global emissions must fall by 45 percent by 2030 to meet the internationally agreed goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, there is no indication that this goal will be met. Currently, emissions continue to rise and extreme weather is taking its toll across the planet.

The International Energy Agency said new fossil fuel projects starting after 2021 are incompatible with reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The vast majority of the 169 companies in the Carbon Majors database increased emissions in 2023 which at the time was the warmest on record. According to the UN climate chief these companies are keeping the world dependent on fossil fuels with no plan to slow production.

Despite global climate commitments a small group of the world's largest fossil fuel producers are significantly increasing production and emissions. The research highlights the disproportionate impact of these companies on the climate crisis and supports efforts to promote social responsibility. Saudi Aramco, Coal India, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Total Energies and BP did not respond to a request for comment.

The Carbon Majors report calculates emissions released by burning coal, oil and gas produced by 169 companies in 2023. The report also includes emissions from cement production, which rose by 6.5 percent. The largest companies responsible for half of global emissions in 2023 continue to include China Energy, National Iranian Oil Company, Gazprom, Adnoc, Petrobras and Eni.

The thirty-six largest companies are dominated by state-owned enterprises, 25 of which are located in China. It is worth noting that coal was the source of 41 percent of emissions, oil 32 percent, gas 23 percent and cement four percent. It is imperative that governments step up and use their authority to end the root cause of the crisis, which is the expansion of fossil fuels.

Source:Guardian