Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from 36 fossil fuel firms, study shows

Researchers say data strengthens case for holding firms to account for their contribution to climate crisis

If Saudi Aramco was a country, it would be the fourth biggest polluter in the world after China, the US and India. File picture: Amir Nabil/AP Photo

Half of the world’s climate-heating carbon emissions come from the fossil fuels produced by just 36 companies, analysis has revealed.

The researchers said the 2023 data strengthened the case for holding fossil fuel companies to account for their contribution to global heating. Previous versions of the annual report have been used in legal cases against companies and investors.