Wow! Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/20/90-companies-man-made-global-warming-emissions-climate-change
<snip>
Chevron, Exxon and BP among companies most responsible for climate change since dawn of industrial age, figures show

The climate crisis of the 21st century has been caused largely by just 90 companies, which between them produced nearly two-thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions generated since the dawning of the industrial age, new research suggests.

The companies range from investor-owned firms – household names such as Chevron, Exxon and BP – to state-owned and government-run firms.

The analysis, which was welcomed by the former vice-president Al Gore as a "crucial step forward" found that the vast majority of the firms were in the business of producing oil, gas or coal, found the analysis, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Climatic Change.

"There are thousands of oil, gas and coal producers in the world," climate researcher and author Richard Heede at the Climate Accountability Institute in Colorado said. "But the decision makers, the CEOs, or the ministers of coal and oil if you narrow it down to just one person, they could all fit on a Greyhound bus or two."

[Warpy]

1. I read somewhere that the biggest user of fossil fuels in this country is the military

It makes sense, military machinery has never been constructed with efficiency in mind.

[NickB79]

2. And?

In this age of massive multi-nationals merging with each other to carry brands making everything from soda to pants to plastic ficus plants, this isn't surprising.

However, the title is wrong. What it should actually say, to be accurate is:

7 billion people, buying products from just 90 companies, caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions

These companies do not operate in a vacuum. They generate these greenhouse gases because they have customers that demand the products they make. That would be us. All of us. We who drive a global consumption-based economy through our purchases cannot absolve ourselves of our share of the blame that easily.