Only 36 companies are responsible for half of the world’s CO2 emissions.

A recent study from a laboratory revealed a revealing fact about global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. Only 36 companies are responsible for half.

In other words, that small group of companies release 50% of the most polluting gases into the atmosphere. The figures correspond to 2023. What does the report say?

Global CO2 Emissions: Responsible Companies

Half of the global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels in 2023 were linked to just 36 companies. This was revealed on Wednesday by a study conducted by the British think tank InfluenceMap.

This center provides analysis to investors, companies, and media on energy and climate change issues.

The emission figures are taken from Carbon Majors, a historical database of the world’s largest producers of oil, gas, coal, and cement from 1854 to 2023.

Among the key data for 2023 is that the emissions from the world’s largest producers of oil, gas, coal, and cement increased that year, and more than 50% of these emissions are linked to just 36 companies.

The document also shows that state-owned companies dominated global emissions in 2023, as 16 of the top 20 emitters are state-owned.

In general, these contributed 52% of emissions in 2023. In detail, the top five state emitters generated 17.4% of the total. The list:

1. The oil company Saudi Aramco, with 4.38%
2. The coal giant Coal India, with 3.68%
3. The Chinese CHN Energy, with 3.65%
4. National Iranian Oil Company, with 2.75%
5. The Chinese Jinneng Group with 2.92%.

The report also notes that 93 of the companies listed in Carbon Majors increased their emissions in 2023, including 50 that were investor-owned.

It also highlights that the top five investor-owned emitters (ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP) accounted for 4.9% of global CO2 emissions that year.

What about cement

According to the document, cement emissions are increasing significantly and it points out that of the five largest emitters in 2023, three were cement companies (Holcim Group, Heidelberg Materials, and UltraTech Cement).

This underscores the critical importance of efforts to decarbonize the industry worldwide.

Emmett Connaire, senior analyst at InfluenceMap, stated: “The latest analysis of the Carbon Majors database reveals that despite global climate commitments, a small group of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers is significantly increasing production and emissions.”

In this regard, he highlighted the “disproportionate impact” these companies have on the climate crisis.

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