Only 36 companies account for half of global emissions, report estimates

More than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 can be linked to just 36 fossil fuel and cement producers, according to a report from the Carbon Majors database. The report found that the 36 companies, including Saudi Aramco, Coal India, ExxonMobil, Shell and numerous Chinese companies, produced coal, oil and gas responsible for more than 20bn tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2023. Emmett Connaire, at InfluenceMap, the thinktank that produced the Carbon Majors report, said: “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 these companies have on the climate crisis and supports efforts to enforce corporate responsibility.”