Fossil Fuel Companies Lack of Carbon Sense

Shivany Ria
Jun 30, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Aug 16, 2023

The extreme weather events occurring across the globe are causing devastating effects on nature and human life. At this point, most of us not in denial, know that the rising temperatures are detrimental to the planet. While the commensurate moral, financial, and legal burden is something we all have to shoulder, the worst offenders of the crisis are still portraying themselves as environmentally responsible and are continuing with the restless cycle of exploitation. It's infuriating, I'll just type it.

Politicians and industry leaders know about the environmental impact of their ties with fossil fuel companies such as Chevron, Shell, Exxon, and BP, four global companies that have caused 10% of the world's carbon emissions since 1965. The top 20 companies have caused 480 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide and other toxic emissions to be released into our atmosphere. They are 35% responsible for climate change.[1] Despite the urgency of the crisis, this is an overall escalating state. It demonstrates the moral failing of our political alignments, these major companies continue to spend billions of pounds on lobbying the government, profiting, and misrepresenting exactly what they are contributing to.

The EU has announced plans to split carbon emissions in half by 2030 and be the first net-zero continent by 2050. The grand plans were discussed in Brussels, the heart of European democracy and lobbying. Despite the comprehensive plans for neutral architecture, there is pushback on the social cost from lobbyists representing fossil fuels companies. Chevron, BP, Exxon, Shell, and Total-- the world's five biggest oil and gas companies, currently employ 200 lobbyists in Brussels. They have spent over 250 million euros since 2010 successfully sabotaging green investments and renewable energy policies, all while securing lucrative fossil fuel subsidies. They also get away with paying zero tax, we pay them to keep drilling. They win, we all lose.

In 2017, The Carbon Majors Database reported that 100 companies are responsible for 71% of all releases of carbon and methane emissions[2]. Due to their trade associations and direct lobbying, they avert climate change policies- even Queen Elizabeth was guilty of lobbying for climate law exemption. It begs for consideration, how the wealthy get richer from profiting off poverty and enabling systems with catastrophic implications.

This forces the acknowledgement of how globally, in the first half of 2021, insurance companies have had to pay out billions to recover lives affected by extreme weather events such as floods, freezing temperatures, heatwaves, fires, and storms. To cover the damage, it has been the largest compensation to date, these numbers are only increasing as we escalate into the climate emergency. Along with housing, essential commodities and literally everything in this world, insurance prices are increasing to reach the demand, recover, and reproduce resources. While the 1% profit off ecocide, head to space and create more wealth than they ever need in their lifetime, the majority of us are left exposed and held captive under the weight of big corporations and the celebrated faces behind them.

While repercussions become dire and seep into everyday life, other large companies act as political chameleons. Big tech companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook, while having big claims of becoming net-zero and lobbying for legislation designed to have a positive impact on the environment, they also have investments in fossil fuel industries[3]. This is how high carbon sectors have only become more active in the backdrop of Covid-19. Sticking a green logo over your company name does not suddenly mean you are socially conscious. Corporate honesty has become interchangeable with greenwashing and change needs to occur to prevent this.

It is a strange and daunting time to be alive and consider the future. Climate change is not going anywhere fast, and it has become a state of moral obligation to ensure we as humanity are doing as much as we can to maintain control of our individual footprint on the world. Collectively, we have to work to make that difference. Look into our support for companies and find alternatives. It is crucial to face the burden of transition. It's inconvenient but necessary.

The List of Top 20 companies contributing to climate change and evading responsibility: