A growing share of greenhouse gas emissions is tied to state-owned oil and gas firms in autocratic nations, raising questions about how to achieve meaningful climate cooperation.
Fiona Harvey reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Of the 20 largest fossil fuel companies globally, 16 are state-owned and accounted for over half of global emissions in 2023, most headquartered in authoritarian states like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China.
- While autocracies can theoretically act quickly on climate due to centralized power, their lack of transparency and internal dissent, along with their reliance on fossil fuel income, often blocks progress.
- Democracies also fall short; the U.S., Canada, and others continue to approve fossil fuel projects despite climate pledges, with political influence from vested interests playing a major role.
Key quote:
"The carbon majors [of all kinds] are keeping the world hooked on fossil fuels, with no plans to slow production.”
— Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief
Why this matters:
Fossil fuel combustion remains the largest driver of climate change, and over half of those emissions now stem from companies controlled by autocratic governments. These regimes face little internal pressure to change course and often operate with minimal transparency, making global accountability nearly impossible. Meanwhile, state-run oil giants like Saudi Aramco or China’s CHN Energy can expand production without disclosing emissions data, sidestepping the scrutiny that publicly traded firms face. Autocracies that rely on fossil fuels for economic stability have little incentive to pivot toward cleaner energy, especially without strong external pressure.
Related: Scientists produce anti-autocracy handbook to protect their work and defend democracy
