Brian Barton
The climate crisis is largely driven by the actions of just a few dozen polluting companies. Research by Richard Heede at the Climate Accountability Institute in the US shows that just 20 companies have contributed to 35% of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane worldwide, totalling 480 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent since 1965. The leading state-owned polluter is Saudi Aramco, which has produced 4.38% of the global total on its own. Other major polluters include ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron. These companies have faced heavy criticism for their environmental records and have been accused of delaying, controlling, or blocking policies that address climate change. While many of these companies have pointed to their efforts to invest in renewable or low-carbon energy sources, critics argue that the sums involved and the pace of change are insufficient.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of companies responsible for most pollution | 20-25 |
| Percentage of carbon dioxide produced by the most polluting company | 4.38% |
| Industry with the most polluting companies | Fossil fuel industry |
| Percentage of global GHG emissions caused by the top 100 companies | 71% |
| Year from which the above data is calculated | 1988 |
| Companies that have committed to 100% renewable power | Apple, Facebook, Google, Ikea, and Volvo |
| One of the most polluting industries | Livestock production |
| Another highly polluting industry | Fashion |
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What You'll Learn
The 20 most polluting companies
Twelve of the top 20 companies are state-owned, and together, their extractions are responsible for 20% of total emissions in the same period. The leading state-owned polluter is Saudi Aramco, which has produced 4.38% of the global total on its own.
Many of the top polluters spend millions each year lobbying governments and presenting themselves as eco-friendly. A recent study revealed that the five most significant oil and gas companies spent $200 million lobbying to delay, control or block policies addressing climate change.
Heede said the companies have “significant moral, financial, and legal obligations and burdens related to the climate crisis”. “The fossil fuel companies have their collective hand on the throttle and the tiller, determining the rate of carbon emissions and the shift to non-carbon fuels,” he added.
According to the UN, we now have just ten years to prevent the worst effects of global warming and limit temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
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Fossil fuel companies
The Guardian revealed the 20 fossil fuel companies whose relentless exploitation of the world’s oil, gas, and coal reserves can be directly linked to more than one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the modern era. The global polluters list uses company-reported annual production of oil, natural gas, and coal and then calculates how much of the carbon and methane in the produced fuels is emitted into the atmosphere throughout the supply chain, from extraction to end use. It found that 90% of the emissions attributed to the top 20 climate culprits came from the use of their products, such as petrol, jet fuel, natural gas, and thermal coal.
The five biggest oil and gas companies spent $200 million lobbying to delay, control, or block policies addressing climate change. Fossil fuel companies have collectively accelerated the climate crisis, and despite being aware of the industry's devastating impact on the planet, they have continued to expand their operations. According to the CDP, between 1988 and 2015, 100 fossil fuel companies were responsible for 71% of global GHG emissions. ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron are among the highest-emitting investor-owned companies since 1988.
The barrier to reducing emissions is the "absolute tension" between short-term profitability and the urgent need to reduce emissions. Fossil fuel companies risked wasting more than $2 trillion over the coming decade by pursuing coal, oil, and gas projects that could become worthless due to international action on climate change and advances in renewables. However, there is a growing wave of companies acting in the opposite manner, with nearly 100 companies, including Apple, Facebook, Google, and Ikea, committing to 100% renewable power under the RE100 initiative.
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Climate change deniers
Climate change denial refers to the denial, dismissal, or doubt of the scientific consensus on the rate and extent of climate change, its significance, or its connection to human behaviour. Climate change denial is a form of science denial and can take on pseudoscientific forms. The terms "climate skeptics" or "contrarians" are used interchangeably with "climate change deniers". However, deniers often prefer the former term to create confusion about their intentions. The terminology is debated, with most active rejectors of the scientific consensus opting for the term "skeptic" or "climate change skepticism".
Climate change denial can manifest in various ways, including explicit and implicit denial. Explicit denial involves directly rejecting the scientific consensus, while implicit denial occurs when individuals accept the consensus but fail to take any action. This type of denial is also called "soft climate change denial". Climate change denial often involves disputing different aspects of the scientific consensus, such as denying the occurrence of climate change, accepting it but denying human contribution, or conceding these points but denying the potential impact on nature and society.
The climate change denial movement employs various political tactics, such as attacking experts, launching personal attacks on opponents, delegitimizing mainstream media sources, and presenting themselves as saviours of traditional values. They also coordinate public relations campaigns and enlist their experts to deny the negative impact of their industries on public health and the environment. These tactics are similar to those used by the tobacco industry to deny the link between their products and cancer.
The role of companies in driving climate change has been a significant focus. Research has revealed that just 20 fossil fuel companies are responsible for contributing to over a third of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane emissions worldwide. These companies have continued to expand their operations despite being aware of the devastating impact of their industry on the planet. Additionally, the five biggest oil and gas companies spent $200 million lobbying to delay, control, or block policies addressing climate change.
In conclusion, climate change deniers employ various tactics to reject or downplay the scientific consensus on climate change, often driven by economic incentives tied to the fossil fuel industry. Their actions have contributed to delaying and obstructing efforts to address the climate crisis.
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Greenwashing
The most polluting companies in the world are in the fossil fuel industry. According to Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute, just 20 companies have contributed to 35% of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane worldwide, totalling 480 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent since 1965. The leading state-owned polluter is Saudi Aramco, which has produced 4.38% of the global total on its own.
Many of these top polluters engage in greenwashing, spending millions each year lobbying governments and presenting themselves as eco-friendly. Greenwashing is when companies project an eco-friendly image that is untrue. It involves cynical marketing ploys, misguided PR stunts, or simply changing the packaging of a product while continuing to use unsustainable ingredients or practices. It’s a way for companies to increase their profit margins by appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
For example, in 2018, Nestlé released a statement saying that it had “ambitions” for its packaging to be 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. However, the company didn’t release clear targets or timelines to accompany its ambitions, and Greenpeace called the statement “greenwashing”. Similarly, Starbucks released a “straw-less lid” in 2018, which contained more plastic than the old lid and straw combination. This was a classic example of a corporate giant pretending to address plastic pollution without actually making a meaningful change.
Another example of greenwashing is when companies apply intentionally misleading labels such as “green” or “eco-friendly”. Coca-Cola did this with Coca-Cola Life. A more subtle form of greenwashing can be seen in plastic water bottle companies like Poland Spring, Evian, and Deer Park, which use nature on their labels despite contributing to the plastic waste crisis.
Even companies that are genuinely trying to become more sustainable can be accused of greenwashing if they don’t communicate their plans and progress clearly and transparently. For instance, IKEA was criticized for building its “most sustainable store” in London in 2019 on top of another sustainable store that was demolished after only 17 years of use.
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The fashion industry
The industry is responsible for 10% of total global carbon emissions, with 85% of all textiles ending up in dumps each year. It is the second-biggest consumer of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons to produce a pair of jeans. The water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers, contributing to water degradation.
Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of water, and the use of synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which do not easily biodegrade, further exacerbates the problem. Washing these synthetic textiles releases microplastics into the ocean, with a single laundry load of polyester clothes discharging 700,000 microplastic fibres that can enter the food chain.
The social and labour aspects of the fashion industry also raise concerns. Developing nations are attractive to garment industries due to their cheap labour, tax breaks, and lenient laws and regulations. However, these countries rarely follow environmental regulations, contributing to land degradation and air and water pollution.
To address these issues, there is a growing movement towards "slow fashion," which advocates for manufacturing that respects people, the environment, and animals. The European Commission has also presented a strategy to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable, and to stimulate innovation within the sector.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to pinpoint a single company as the most polluting entity, as there are numerous factors to consider. However, according to the Carbon Majors Database, 100 companies were responsible for 71% of global GHG emissions between 1988 and 2015. The top 20 of these companies, all in the fossil fuel industry, contributed to 35% of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.
The five biggest oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron, have spent millions lobbying to delay or block policies addressing climate change. These companies have been accused of knowing about the environmental impact of their operations but continuing to expand regardless.
The continued extraction and combustion of fossil fuels by these companies contribute significantly to global warming and the destabilization of the Earth's climate. If this rate of extraction continues, the global average temperature is predicted to rise by up to 4°C, leading to potential species extinction and global food scarcity.
There is a growing movement towards a carbon-free economy, with companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, and Ikea committing to obtaining 100% renewable energy. Additionally, investors are being encouraged to move away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy investments. By holding these polluting companies accountable and transitioning to renewable sources, we can work towards mitigating the worst effects of climate change.
