Who Are The Largest Global Polluters?
Visual Capitalist reports that globally carbon emissions shot up by 1.7% in 2018, making 2015 to 2018, the hottest 4 years on mother earth. Twin acute challenges facing the world today are poverty & hunger eradication, along with stabilization of global climate, if we have to avoid reaching the tipping point.
What are the potent manifestations of climate change? 4 clear effects are visible: extreme weather conditions all over the planet reported in world news weekly, large increase in infectious diseases in all 5 continents, data based insurance losses of natural calamities shooting up to $ 79 billion, & health impact of burning fossil fuels in USA alone, touching an astounding $240 billion in 2018.
Researchers estimate that in the last 50 years or so, 1.35 million metric tons of carbon emissions have been let loose in the atmosphere. And Who are these biggest polluters??. Astonishingly, top 20 fossil fuel based firms account for one third of these emissions .In fact 10 big polluters are responsible for 75% of this contribution.
Who are these SINNERS?
Climate Accountability Institute points it out factually. Clearly the biggest is the richest...Saudi Aramco which emitted 6 times China's releases...amounting to 59000 million metric tonnes. Followed by Chevron at 43300, Russia's Gazprom at 43200, ExxonMobil at 41900, Iran's National oil Company ar 35600, UK'S BP at 34000,Holland's Royal Shell at 31900,Coal India at 23100, Mexico's Pemex at 22600 & Venezuela's Petroleus de at 15700.Clearly if these 10 Company Boards adopt large climate change initiatives, & move towards Renewables ,as they can easily afford to do it, world would become a better place to live in.
Consequences of inaction are stupendous....Firstly the world's fresh water supplies are under great stress& the air we breathe is reminding us daily, it's no longer going to be free.
From 7 billion we will grow to 9 billion in 30 years...how do you take care of the vast jump in total numbers of humanity, when the existing multitudes are under acute deprivation & stress? Meat consumption which is the biggest guzzler of water & air, is rising all over, especially among the 5 biggest consuming nations of USA, Israel, Canada, Korea & Japan....Can mother earth sustain humanity & consumption linked proportional livestock, together??
Solutions to combat universally felt climate change, are obvious. Individuals, firms & governments need to move towards renewable energy options quickly & consistently. Fossil fuel based vehicles will have to give way to EVs, whether we like it or not. Recycled material products are a reality...the world just cannot prefer their single use & ensure any level of affordable sustainability.
Finally, 30% of all global food production is lost or wasted annually observes visual Capitalist.....Food Conservation should become the mission of each of the billion odd households, living on the largess of Mother Earth.
