The Carbon Majors report, a comprehensive database detailing the extraction of oil, gas, coal, and cement by the world’s 180 largest companies, reveals that 36 of these corporations are responsible for half of global CO2 emissions. Just five of the biggest polluters—Saudi Aramco, Coal India, CHN Energy, the National Iranian Oil Company, and Jinneng Group—accounted for a staggering 7.4 billion tons of carbon emissions, which represents 17.4 percent of all global emissions. The Carbon Majors dataset spans from 1854 to 2023, combining company production reports with environmental pollution levels to assess the greenhouse gas emissions produced by each company. This ongoing analysis consistently highlights which producers are responsible for the majority of pollution.
In 2023, the largest carbon producers collectively emitted 17.5 gigatons of CO2. Leading the pack was Saudi Aramco, which alone contributed 1.839 billion tons of CO2, equating to 4.38 percent of the total global emissions. Following closely was Coal India, the world’s largest state-owned coal producer, responsible for 1.548 billion tons of CO2 emissions—3.68 percent of the global total. CNH Energy, also known as China Energy, secured the third spot with emissions totaling 1.533 billion tons, or 3.65 percent of the worldwide figure. Notably, the largest sources of CO2 emissions were state-owned enterprises. A total of 68 state companies monitored by Carbon Majors produced 22.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions, which is over half of the global emissions linked to fossil fuels and cement.
Coal continues to be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, accounting for 41 percent. However, the fastest-growing contributor to carbon pollution is cement production, with CO2 emissions from cement companies increasing by 6.5 percent in just one year. Furthermore, four out of the five companies with the highest emissions in 2023 were cement producers, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Emmett Conner, a senior analyst at InfluenceMap, the organization behind the Carbon Majors report, noted, “Despite global commitments to combat climate change, a small group of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers is significantly ramping up production and emissions. This research underscores the disproportionate impact these companies have on the climate crisis, and some are now facing legal challenges.”