Archive · 16 Sep 2025
Study Links Fossil Fuel Emissions to Deadly Heatwaves
Imagine the Earth is getting hotter because of things like factories and cars that release pollution.
A new study looked at the biggest companies that make this pollution and found that their pollution is making heatwaves much worse.
The study looked at many heatwaves and found that pollution from these companies made them happen more often and made them much hotter.
This means these companies are a big part of the reason why people are suffering from extreme heat.
The study can be used to hold these companies responsible for the damage they are causing.
Study links fossil fuel emissions to 213 heatwaves worldwide between 2000 and 2023.
Emissions from major companies made many heatwaves more likely.
Heatwaves between 2010-2019 were 1.7 degrees Celsius warmer.
The study shows that emissions from these companies contributed about half of the increase in the intensity of heatwaves.
Findings could be used as evidence in legal battles to hold fossil fuel companies accountable.
- Who
- Researchers from multiple international institutions
- What
- A study linking carbon emissions from fossil fuel companies to numerous heatwaves.
- When
- The study analyzed heatwaves from 2000-2023.
- Where
- Worldwide.
- Why
- To assess the link between fossil fuel company emissions and heatwaves, and to provide evidence in legal battles.
- Study Publication
- Nature
- Study Date
- September 10
- Companies Analyzed
- 14 of the biggest fossil fuel companies
- Heatwaves Analyzed
- 213 between 2000 and 2023
- Companies with Impact
- Emissions from some companies made many heatwaves at least 10,000 times more likely
- Temperature Increase
- Heatwaves between 2010-2019 were 1.7 degrees Celsius warmer