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Unveiling the 21st Century Climate Culprits-Just 57 Entities Behind 80% of Global Emissions
In a stark revelation, a recent study has pinpointed that a mere 57 companies, primarily involved in oil, gas, coal, and cement production, are directly responsible for a staggering 80% of the world’s global fossil CO2 emissions since the landmark 2016 Paris climate agreement. This alarming statistic underscores the pivotal role played by a select group of state-controlled corporations and multinational conglomerates in driving the ongoing climate crisis. News The Guardian.
The Carbon Majors Database, curated by esteemed researchers, has shed light on the disconcerting reality that despite global pledges to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the majority of these major producers have significantly escalated their output of fossil fuels and associated emissions in the post-Paris era. This trend starkly contrasts with the aspirations outlined in the Paris agreement and poses a formidable challenge to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
Analysis of the database, encompassing 122 of the largest historical climate polluters, reveals that a substantial portion—65% of state entities and 55% of private-sector companies—have ramped up production in recent years. Leading the pack among investor-owned contributors to emissions is ExxonMobil of the United States, accounting for 3.6 gigatonnes of CO2 over seven years, closely followed by industry heavyweights such as Shell, BP, Chevron, and Total Energies.
Of particular concern is the exponential growth in emissions attributed to state and state-owned producers, notably within the Asian coal sector, a trend that persists despite warnings from entities like the International Energy Agency regarding the imperative to halt the opening of new oil and gas fields to limit global warming within safe thresholds.
Richard Heede, the visionary behind the Carbon Majors dataset, has decried the continued expansion of carbon fuel exploration and production, emphasizing the moral imperative for these companies to reckon with the detrimental impacts of their activities on the environment and human well-being. He calls attention to the culpability of these entities, urging them to assume responsibility for the damages wrought by their actions and to contribute substantively to initiatives aimed at addressing loss and damage caused by climate change.
The unveiling of the updated Carbon Majors Database, now accessible to the public via a dedicated platform hosted by InfluenceMap, provides invaluable insights into long-term emissions trends dating back to the industrial revolution. Notably, the dominance of Chinese state coal production in historical emissions underscores the shifting dynamics of global emissions, with Asia emerging as a primary locus of carbon-intensive activities in the contemporary era.
Despite pledges by major oil and gas producers to achieve net-zero emissions targets, the discrepancy between rhetoric and action remains palpable. Many of these entities continue to prioritize profit-driven expansion over meaningful climate action, thereby exacerbating the climate crisis.
As the world grapples with the existential threat posed by climate change, there is an urgent need for concerted action at the intersection of policy, corporate responsibility, and public advocacy. Holding these energy giants to account for the consequences of their actions is paramount in catalyzing transformative change and safeguarding the future of our planet for generations to come.
