Companies with the Most Fossil Fuel and Cement CO2 Emissions

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Chinese Companies Dominate the List

This graphic is based on Carbon Majors, a database of historical production data from 180 of the world’s largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers representing 169 active and 11 inactive entities.

In 2023, the top 20 highest carbon-producing entities were responsible for 17.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) in emissions, accounting for 40.8% of global fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions. The list is largely dominated by state-owned companies, with 16 of the top 20 being state-controlled. Notably, eight Chinese entities contributed to 17.3% of global fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions in 2023.

Coal continued to be the largest source of emissions in 2023, representing 41.1% of emissions in the database and continuing a steady upward trend since 2016. Coal emissions grew by 1.9% (258 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – MtCO₂e) from 2022, while cement saw the largest relative increase at 6.5% (82 MtCO₂e), driven by expanding production.

In contrast, natural gas emissions fell by 3.7% (164 MtCO₂e), and oil emissions remained stable with only a slight increase of 0.3% (73 MtCO₂e).

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic that shows greenhouse gas emissions by sector in 2023, according to data was compiled by the United Nations. The power sector remains the largest emissions contributor.

Population Growth, Crop Production, and Fertilizer Use Since 1960

Since 1960, the world’s demand for crops has skyrocketed, fueled by a booming population that now exceeds 8 billion, rising incomes, and expanding uses for agricultural products.

This visualization, created in partnership with BHP, charts the trends of population growth, crop production, and potash demand over six decades.

Six Decades of Growth

The relationship between population growth, crop production, and fertilizer demand is closely interconnected.

The growth rate of these three variables, however, has not been equal.

BHP’s analysis reveals that potash demand has significantly outpaced both crop production and population growth since 1960, highlighting its essential role in feeding a growing global population.

The data reveals that despite significant supply disruptions, including the collapse of the Soviet Union—a major potash-producing region—and the 2008 financial crisis, the average annual growth rate of potash demand has consistently surpassed both population growth and crop production.

The Future of Modern Agriculture

By 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, potentially presenting significant challenges in meeting the world’s growing food demands. Farmers are expected to face mounting pressures to produce more food on increasingly limited arable land, making innovation and sustainable practices essential to maximizing yields.

Potash—a potassium-rich mineral used to enhance soil fertility and improve crop yields—can play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges.

In fact, BHP expects global demand for potash to grow by around 70% by 2050, driven by global megatrends such as rising populations, improving living standards, changing diets, and the need to improve the productivity of existing land.