Half of 2024 global emissions produced by just 32 fossil fuel firms, study finds

⭐ Join our community and access the best we offer!

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on RFI or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A report published on January 22, 2026, by Carbon Majors highlights that just 32 fossil fuel companies are responsible for half of global greenhouse gas emissions
• These companies, including Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and BP, continue to dominate global emissions, undermining efforts to mitigate climate change

🔭 The context: The global reliance on oil, gas, and coal remains a significant driver of climate change
• Despite some progress in renewable energy, the continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels by a small group of powerful companies are hindering the world’s efforts to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: These companies, led by state-owned giants like Aramco, Gazprom, and Iran’s National Oil Company, contribute significantly to global warming
• Their emissions continue to impact air quality, accelerate climate change, and undermine global climate goals
• With many of these companies also opposing the fossil fuel phaseout, the path to a sustainable future remains difficult

⏭️ What’s next: The growing influence of these high-emission companies presents a barrier to international climate action
• Achieving the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target is increasingly out of reach without drastic reductions in emissions, especially from these major fossil fuel players

💬 One quote: “17 of the top 20 highest-emitting companies are state-owned, controlled by governments that opposed a proposed global fossil fuel phaseout at COP30.”

📈 One stat: Saudi Aramco alone generated 1.7 billion tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, contributing significantly to the global emissions crisis

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon and oil & gas