Scientists have recently found that we have about 30 years left before climate change reaches a dangerous level. According to Fiona Harvey of The Guardian, if serious reductions are not made soon to the amount of greenhouse gases we emit globally, then we will likely see even more extreme and very dangerous weather changes, including more droughts and heat waves.

In order to begin to understand how to reduce these emissions, it seems the first course of action is to identify where exactly these emissions are coming from. First, scientists have identified which countries are releasing the most greenhouse gases. In 2008, China contributed the highest amount, followed by the US and then the EU, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A new analysis has broken this down even further, down to which companies are responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions. According to Suzanne Goldenberg of The Guardian, it turns out that 90 companies are responsible for two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions made. These companies are largely producers of oil, gas or coal and include names you will recognize like Chevron, Exxon and BP. Others are firms owned by states and governments.

It’s not a big surprise that fossil fuels are at the crux of the issue. In order to truly save our future, we will need to find a way to eliminate our dependence on them.

Sources:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/20/90-companies-man-made-global-warming-emissions-climate-change
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/27/ipcc-world-dangerous-climate-change