According to an analysis of the data, 36 companies are responsible for more than half of global carbon dioxide emissions. This is the conclusion reached by the climate research center InfluenceMap based on its “Database of Major Carbon Producers.”
New analysis reveals that 57 companies and countries are responsible for 80% of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement since 2016. These entities include:
- Domestic producers: account for 38% of emissions
- State-owned enterprises: account for 37% of emissions
- Investor-owned companies: account for 25% of emissions
The database, which covers the period from 1854 to 2022, shows that more than 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement since the Industrial Revolution can be traced back to just 78 entities.
The Impact of the Paris Agreement
Despite global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement, the majority of fossil fuel companies reported an increase in production in the seven years following the agreement compared to thepreceding period.² The data indicates that:
- 65% of state-owned companies have increased their production
- 55% of investor-owned companies increased their production
Calls for accountability
Experts and activists believe this data underscores the need to hold companies accountable for their role inthe climate crisis. Dan Van Aker, Program Director at InfluenceMap, said: “The database of major carbon producers is a key tool for assigning responsibility for climate change to fossil fuel producers who play the largest role in drivingglobal carbon dioxide emissions.”1
Researchers and activists emphasize the importance of this data in facilitating the documentation, quantification, and visualization of the growing gap between the urgent demands of the climate crisis and the continued growth in oiland gas production.³ This information serves as a vital and powerful tool in advancing climate action and climate accountability.