A tiny group of fossil fuel giants has been revealed to be responsible for half of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis. According to a recent report, just 32 companies - including Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil - are behind this staggering figure, down from 36 last year.
TheCarbon Majors report highlights the political barriers that hinder efforts to tackle global heating. State-owned fossil fuel producers dominate the top 20 emitters, with all 17 controlled by countries that opposed a proposed phaseout of fossil fuels at the Cop30 UN climate summit in December. In contrast, over 80 other nations had supported the plan.
The report reveals that Saudi Aramco alone is responsible for nearly 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions, making it the fifth biggest carbon polluter if it were a country. ExxonMobil's production leads to approximately 610 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, placing it ninth on the list.
As global emissions continue to rise annually, experts warn that limiting overshoot is crucial to meeting the Paris agreement's goal of 1.5C. However, this target now seems increasingly impossible. The concentration of carbon emissions among a few high-emitting producers has been increasing over time.
Critics argue that these fossil fuel companies are "sabotaging climate action" and "being on the wrong side of history." One expert described them as "clinging on to outdated, polluting products." On the other hand, advocates for clean energy say that data is being used to hold these companies accountable.
The report has provided evidence in recent legal cases, such as Lliuya v RWE, a landmark German climate litigation case. Climate superfund laws in New York and Vermont require large fossil fuel companies to pay for projects to protect citizens against climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat.
As the stakes continue to rise, experts emphasize that accountability must follow when the law is clear. Rebecca Brown of the Center for International Environmental Law said, "The evidence just keeps mounting. The international court of justice and courts around the world are increasingly connecting the dots between fossil fuel production and climate destruction."
With the world's largest emitters pushing back against efforts to curb emissions, it remains to be seen whether the increasing pressure from governments, activists, and experts will lead to meaningful change.
TheCarbon Majors report highlights the political barriers that hinder efforts to tackle global heating. State-owned fossil fuel producers dominate the top 20 emitters, with all 17 controlled by countries that opposed a proposed phaseout of fossil fuels at the Cop30 UN climate summit in December. In contrast, over 80 other nations had supported the plan.
The report reveals that Saudi Aramco alone is responsible for nearly 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions, making it the fifth biggest carbon polluter if it were a country. ExxonMobil's production leads to approximately 610 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, placing it ninth on the list.
As global emissions continue to rise annually, experts warn that limiting overshoot is crucial to meeting the Paris agreement's goal of 1.5C. However, this target now seems increasingly impossible. The concentration of carbon emissions among a few high-emitting producers has been increasing over time.
Critics argue that these fossil fuel companies are "sabotaging climate action" and "being on the wrong side of history." One expert described them as "clinging on to outdated, polluting products." On the other hand, advocates for clean energy say that data is being used to hold these companies accountable.
The report has provided evidence in recent legal cases, such as Lliuya v RWE, a landmark German climate litigation case. Climate superfund laws in New York and Vermont require large fossil fuel companies to pay for projects to protect citizens against climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat.
As the stakes continue to rise, experts emphasize that accountability must follow when the law is clear. Rebecca Brown of the Center for International Environmental Law said, "The evidence just keeps mounting. The international court of justice and courts around the world are increasingly connecting the dots between fossil fuel production and climate destruction."
With the world's largest emitters pushing back against efforts to curb emissions, it remains to be seen whether the increasing pressure from governments, activists, and experts will lead to meaningful change.
I'm not surprised tho, I mean we all know fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate crisis, but seeing these giant companies responsible for half of global CO2 emissions is just wild . 32 companies? it's like they're a special club or something 
Saudi Aramco is literally pumping out more CO2 than any other country 
The data is clear, but the politics can be messy.
Like what can one company do to carbon emissions alone? 1.7 billion tonnes?! That's insane! 
. And the fact that state-owned producers dominate the top emitters? Red flag 
.
. The data is clear: fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate change, and it's time for these corporations to take responsibility 
.
. It's like they think they can just keep polluting without any consequences 
. Well, newsflash: the world is watching, and we won't stand idly by while our planet burns 
.
. I mean, 32 big ones out of who-knows-how-many isn't exactly a small group 
. And, yeah, it's super surprising that they're all from countries that opposed climate action at Cop30... like, totally not a coincidence 
. But hey, maybe the data will hold them accountable and we'll finally see some real change 
. Fingers crossed... or should I say, toes? 
. If we're gonna hold these fossil fuel giants accountable, shouldn't we be looking at more systemic changes rather than just targeting individual companies? 
It's easy to blame the "bad guys" when the real problem is a global addiction to fossil fuels 
. The fact that state-owned producers are dominating the top 20 emitters is a clear sign of the political barriers hindering our efforts to transition to clean energy 
.
! If we're going to meet the Paris agreement's goal, we need to see some serious commitment from these fossil fuel giants