Study links fossil fuel companies to extreme heat waves worldwide

Scientists have published research showing that major fossil fuel companies are directly responsible for making many extreme heat waves possible. The study, released in the journal Nature, looked at 213 heat waves around the world and found that 55 of them were at least 10,000 times more likely to happen because of climate change caused by these companies' emissions.

Researchers identified 180 large fossil fuel and cement producers whose greenhouse gas output substantially increased both the frequency and strength of heat waves. Companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP each produced enough emissions to individually enable between 16 and 53 heat waves that could not have occurred in a pre-industrial climate.

The study connected this research to specific events, including the deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome and the 2003 France heat wave.