Carbon emissions from the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies have been directly linked to dozens of deadly heatwaves for the first time, according to a new analysis. The scientists first worked out how much each carbon major’s emissions had pushed up temperatures and then how much these higher temperatures increased the likelihood of heatwaves. View image in fullscreen Aramco’s oilfield in Shaybah, Saudi Arabia; fossil fuel companies have a particular responsibility, said the study’s lead author. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/ReutersEven the emissions from the fossil fuel companies at the bottom of the list of carbon majors had a significant impact on heatwaves. The carbon pollution from each of these caused 16 heatwaves to become at least 10,000 times more likely than before the climate crisis.
