A recent report from Carbon Majors shows just 20 companies create 40 percent of emissions globally. The 180 companies control oil, gas, coal and cement. Since 1750, the 169 operating and 11 not operating, have created 2/3rds of all carbon emissions.
Of the 180 largest oil, gas, coal and cement producers:
- 40% from 20 companies
- 50% from 36 companies
- 20 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions.
- 52% are state owned entities (25) and 16 of them are in the top 20
Historically, 1854 to end of 2023
- 2/3rds from 180 industrial producers
- 1/3rd from 26 companies
Who pollutes the Earth with fossil fuel emissions?
20 companies create 40 percent of emissions
Summary Detail
Carbon Majors traces 33.9 GtCO2e of emissions to the 169 active entities in the database in 2023, a 0.7% increase from 2022. The CO2 emissions in the database accounted for 78.4% of global fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions in 2023. Just 36 companies linked to over half of these global emissions.
More Reading
Carbon Majors: 2023 Data Update https://influencemap.org/briefing/The-Carbon-Majors-Database-2023-Update-31397
These 36 fossil fuel firms are responsible for half of global emissions, report reveals https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/03/05/these-36-fossil-fuel-firms-are-responsible-for-half-of-global-emissions-report-reveals
