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Fossil Fuel Firms Held Accountable for Deadly Heat Waves
10 Sep
Summary
- Climate attribution study links major fossil fuel companies to heat wave severity
- Even smallest carbon majors substantially contributed to heat wave probability
- Research could aid climate litigation efforts against fossil fuel firms
A groundbreaking new study has revealed the direct link between major fossil fuel companies and the increasing severity of deadly heat waves globally. The research, published in the journal Nature, analyzed heat waves that occurred between 2000 and 2023 and the role of "carbon majors" - state-owned firms, investor-owned private companies, and even nation-states that produce fossil fuels.
The study found that climate change made the median intensity of heat waves globally between 2010 and 2019 about 1.68°C hotter, with 0.47°C of that increase directly attributable to just 14 of the largest carbon majors. The findings go into granular detail, quantifying the specific contributions of each of the 180 carbon majors studied and their impact on individual heat waves.
Experts say this research is a game-changer for climate litigation, as it provides a clear, scientific basis to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the damages caused by extreme weather events. The study could help plaintiffs establish standing and trace the harms they've suffered directly to the emissions of these major corporations.
"Let's say you're a farmer and your livestock died in the heat dome. You as an individual farmer don't have the capacity to prove that heat wave was caused by climate change," said Naomi Oreskes, a leading expert on climate misinformation. "But now you don't have to because the scientists have done that work."
The findings come at a critical time, as some countries, including Canada, have recently rolled back key climate policies. However, the International Court of Justice has issued a precedent-setting advisory opinion stating that countries suffering from climate disasters could seek reparations from major emitters. This new research could bolster such legal efforts worldwide.
