Half of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels in 2023 were linked to just 36 companies, according to a study conducted by the British think tank InfluenceMap. This center, which provides analysis on energy and climate change to investors, companies, and media, released updated data on the largest global CO2 emitters, drawn from the historical Carbon Majors database.
Among the key data from 2023, it stands out that the emissions from the world's largest producers of oil, gas, coal, and cement increased that year, with more than 50% of these emissions linked to those 36 companies. According to the report, state-owned companies dominated global emissions in 2023, as 16 of the top 20 emitters are state-owned.
The study also reveals that the five main state-owned emitters were responsible for 17.4% of all CO2 emissions in 2023. Topping the list is the oil company Saudi Aramco, followed by Coal India, China's CHN Energy, the National Iranian Oil Company, and China's Jinneng Group.
Additionally, it is observed that various companies increased their emissions in 2023, noting a significant rise in cement emissions, where three of the five largest emitters were cement companies. This highlights the importance of decarbonizing the industry globally.
Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, expressed her concern about the ongoing dependence on fossil fuels. According to her, it is essential to move towards a decarbonized economic system that benefits both people and the planet. On the other hand, Emmett Connaire, senior analyst at InfluenceMap, emphasizes the significant impact that a small group of large fossil fuel producers has on the climate crisis.
