A new study by ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities in science and engineering, demonstrates that human-induced climate change greatly increased the likelihood and intensity of over 200 global heatwaves between 2000 and 2023. Emissions associated with each of the 180 largest producers of fossil fuels and cement contributed substantially to these events. Emissions from these so-called carbon majors accounted for 60% of humanity’s total cumulative CO2 emissions from 1850 to 2023.
The research looked at 213 heatwaves that occurred on all seven of Earth’s continents between 2000 and 2023. The study calculated how climate change affected the intensity and likelihood of each heatwave.
According to the study, global warming made heatwaves 20 times more likely between 2000 and 2009, and as much as 200 times more likely between 2010 and 2019, compared with the period between 1850 and 1900.
Estimates are that the 180 carbon majors are responsible for about half of the change in global mean surface temperature over time. Furthermore, 14 of these 180 entities made the same contribution to climate change as the remaining 166 organizations combined.
While every one of us – individuals, countries, or companies – contributes to climate change, the carbon majors have especially significant responsibility.
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Rising heat waves tied to fossil fuel and cement production
Photo, posted May 1, 2019, courtesy of Martin Snicer via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio