Worsening Global Heatwaves Linked to Fossil Fuel Industry

Worsening Global Heatwaves Linked to Fossil Fuel Industry
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According to an article published on Earth.com, a new study directly links specific fossil fuel and cement producers—dubbed “carbon majors”—to the worsening intensity and likelihood of global heatwaves. The study, published in the journal Nature, analyzed 213 major heatwaves that occurred between 2000 and 2023.

The research goes beyond simply connecting climate change to these events; it quantifies the contribution of 180 large producers. The study found that roughly half of the increase in heatwave intensity since the pre-industrial era can be traced back to the emissions from these companies. The median intensity of heatwaves increased from about 1.4°C in 2000-2009 to 2.2°C in 2020-2023. The likelihood of a heatwave also dramatically increased, becoming 200 times more probable in the 2010-2019 decade compared to the pre-industrial era.

A key finding is that a small number of these entities are responsible for a significant fraction of all emissions, with just fourteen companies having a warming contribution that matches the other 166 combined. The study’s authors note that this focus on firms, rather than countries or individuals, could be used to inform future discussions on corporate responsibility, insurance, and funding for climate adaptation.