2013/11/21 by Richard Heede · 1 voice · 7 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Energy · Environmental Science · #Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics #Climate Change Policy and Economics #Global Energy and Sustainability Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10584-013-0986-y
openalex publication_date 2013/11/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the historic fossil fuel and cement production records of the 50 leading investor-owned, 31 state-owned, and 9 nation-state producers of oil, natural gas, coal, and cement from as early as 1854 to 2010. This analysis traces emissions totaling 914 GtCO 2 e—63 % of cumulative worldwide emissions of industrial CO 2 and methane between 1751 and 2010—to the 90 “carbon major” entities based on the carbon content of marketed hydrocarbon fuels (subtracting for non-energy uses), process CO 2 from cement manufacture, CO 2 from flaring, venting, and own fuel use, and fugitive or vented methane. Cumulatively, emissions of 315 GtCO 2 e have been traced to investor-owned entities, 288 GtCO 2 e to state-owned enterprises, and 312 GtCO 2 e to nation-states. Of these emissions, half has been emitted since 1986. The carbon major entities possess fossil fuel reserves that will, if produced and emitted, intensify anthropogenic climate change. The purpose of the analysis is to understand the historic emissions as a factual matter, and to invite consideration of their possible relevance to public policy.