For the first time, scientists have traced dozens of deadly heatwaves directly to the carbon emissions of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies. The study, hailed as a breakthrough in climate accountability, shows that just 14 oil giants — including ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco — each produced enough pollution to make over 50 extreme heatwaves virtually inevitable.
The findings are stark: ExxonMobil’s emissions alone made 51 heatwaves at least 10,000 times more likely, as did Saudi Aramco’s. Globally, heatwaves already cause over 500,000 deaths a year, with the 2021 Pacific Northwest disaster made almost 3°C hotter by global heating.
Researchers found that emissions from 180 “carbon major” companies are responsible for about half the increase in heatwave intensity. From 2010 to 2019, the 213 heatwaves studied became on average 200 times more likely because of the climate crisis. Prof Sonia Seneviratne of ETH Zurich said:
“Being able to quantify the role of individual companies could be vital for establishing liability.”
Experts say this link between polluters and disasters could form the cornerstone of lawsuits and policies to hold Big Oil accountable finally. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Salas/EPA