The Climate Accountability Institute has tracked over one-third of all emissions since 1965 to 20 private companies in the fossil fuel industry.
State-owned Saudi Aramco, Gazprom, and National Iranian Oil Co join private companies Chevron and Exxonmobil top the list of 20 companies that are responsible for releasing over one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions since 1965. Although 67 countries have committed to be carbon neutral by 2050, ongoing dependence on fossil fuels remains to create a carbon-intensive economy.
"In my view, fossil fuel firms were morally and legally obliged to warn that continued use of carbon fuels threatens our health and welfare, and to accelerate the conversation on how to reduce the threat," co-director of the Climate Accountability Institute Richard Heede wrote in an editorial published by The Guardian. "Instead the industry has for decades invested millions in climate denial and obfuscation in order to delay legislative action and avoid losing market share."