The impact of carbon emissions on extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods, and droughts is becoming more evident through climate attribution studies. A recent study published in the journal Nature delves into the connection between major fossil fuel companies, their emissions, and the deadliest type of disaster – heat waves.
Researchers analyzed heat waves between 2000 and 2023, attributing their severity and likelihood to “carbon majors,” which comprise state-owned entities like Gazprom and Saudi Aramco, investor-owned companies such as Shell and ExxonMobil, and nations producing fossil fuels like coal. By examining the lifetime emissions of these carbon majors, the study revealed how their contributions exacerbated the intensity of heat waves.
The study highlighted a significant increase in the median intensity of global heat waves from 2010 to 2019, with a substantial portion of the rise linked to just 14 of the largest carbon majors. Each of the 180 carbon majors was scrutinized for their specific impact on 213 heat waves, even showcasing how smaller companies played a significant role in amplifying the likelihood of extreme heat events.
According to Yann Quilcaille, a climate scientist at ETH Zürich and lead researcher of the study, the findings underscore the substantial contribution of even the smallest carbon majors to the occurrence of heat waves. This research marks a pivotal step in attributing moral and legal responsibility for climate change to fossil fuel companies, potentially influencing climate litigation globally.
While the study did not quantify the financial damage caused by individual companies, it laid the groundwork for assessing liability based on their emissions. This development comes at a crucial time as governments and corporations reassess climate policies in response to shifting global priorities.
The study aligns with a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, indicating that countries affected by climate disasters could seek reparations from major carbon emitters. Legal experts suggest that such attribution research strengthens the case against fossil fuel companies, setting the stage for potential legal action to hold them accountable for their contributions to climate change.
In Canada, ongoing legal battles led by young activists against government inaction on climate change further underscore the growing momentum for accountability. The study’s implications could empower impacted individuals, like farmers affected by extreme weather events, by leveraging scientific evidence to support their claims for compensation.
Naomi Oreskes, a prominent climate researcher at Harvard University, emphasized the study’s significance in revealing the substantial role of carbon majors in exacerbating climate issues. She highlighted the historical knowledge and actions of major oil companies in perpetuating climate change, underscoring the urgency for accountability and mitigation efforts.
Despite attempts to reach out to the carbon majors mentioned in the study for comments, responses were either unavailable or declined. The study’s implications are expected to reverberate across legal, environmental, and social domains, fueling conversations on corporate responsibility and climate justice.