Financial Accountability and Legal Implications
A study estimates 111 companies caused $28 trillion in climate damage, aiming to make it easier to hold them financially accountable, similar to actions taken against tobacco companies.
The research highlights the potential for legal action, noting 68 global lawsuits on climate change damage, with over half in the , and emphasizes the scientific basis for tracing climate harm to specific emitters.
Methodology and Findings
Researchers used emissions data and computer simulations to link corporate pollution to global temperature changes and economic impacts, finding significant contributions to the five hottest days of the year.
The study identifies and as the top contributors, each causing over $2 trillion in heat damage, and challenges the notion of plausible deniability regarding the impact of individual emissions.