Corporate Accountability in CO2 Emissions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts regarding corporate accountability related to CO2 emissions and climate change.

Carbon Majors Database

A comprehensive database tracking greenhouse gas emissions by specific companies, tracing emissions from 1854 to present.

State-owned companies

Firms owned and operated by a government; in this context, they are major contributors to global emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including CO2, responsible for climate change.

ExxonMobil

An investor-owned company and one of the top emitters of global CO2 emissions, responsible for about 1.28%.

CHN Energy

A Chinese coal company that was the third-biggest emitter of fossil fuel-related CO2 in 2023.

Accountability for climate change

The concept of holding specific companies responsible for their contributions to climate-related harm.

Climate superfund laws

Legislations aimed at creating a fund to address environmental and climate issues caused by corporations.

Advocacy groups

Organizations that work to influence public policy and promote climate accountability in corporate practices.

Johan Rockström

Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research who emphasized the urgency of accountability for top emitters.

Cement industry emissions

Refers to emissions specifically arising from the cement manufacturing process, noted for significant increases in 2023.

1) What year were China and US almost the same in GHG emissions? What has happened since then to the US’s emissions? To China’s emissions?

In 2014, China and the US had nearly the same greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since then, US emissions have declined due to increased energy efficiency and a shift to cleaner energy, while China's emissions have continued to rise, driven by industrial growth and reliance on coal.

2) What has happened to total emissions globally from 2004 to 2025?

Global total emissions have increased significantly, driven by industrialization and energy demand, despite international efforts to reduce them.

3) What nation and what region has the largest per capita emissions?

North America remains the highest by far followed by Europe and Central Asia in per capita emissions due to high energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels.

4) In 2025, who are the top 10 emitters of GHGs? What percent of all emissions are they responsible for?

The top 10 emitters of GHGs in 2025 are projected to include China, the United States, the EU, India, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Indonesia, Canada, and Germany, collectively accounting for about 70% of global emissions. They face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprints.

5) In the Axios articles, the unit of analysis is ______________________ as opposed to the unit of analysis in the World Resource Institute webpage being ____________________.

corporate accountability; national emissions reporting; total carbon output

7) Are the companies responsible for the most emissions state owned or private?

The companies responsible for the most emissions are primarily private corporations, although state-owned enterprises also contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.

8) How many oil, gas, coal and cement producers were responsible for contributing more than 50% of the world’s fossil fuel-linked CO2 emissions?

Over 100 companies are responsible for more than 50% of the world’s fossil fuel-linked CO2 emissions.