For the first time, a scientific study has directly linked carbon emissions from individual fossil fuel companies to dozens of deadly heatwaves across the globe, raising the prospect of legal claims for compensation. Researchers concluded that oil and gas majors, including some of the world’s largest corporations, have made extreme heat events not just worse but in many cases possible.
Groundbreaking scientific evidence
The study, published in a leading climate science journal, analysed historical temperature data and emissions records from major oil, gas, and coal producers. By using advanced climate attribution models, researchers established that the greenhouse gases released by these companies were responsible for a measurable share of extreme heatwaves between 1991 and 2018.
According to the findings, dozens of heatwaves that killed thousands across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa would not have occurred without the emissions from a small number of energy companies. This marks the first peer-reviewed evidence directly connecting specific corporations to extreme weather fatalities.
A potential shift in legal liability
The implications for corporate accountability are significant. Climate litigators argue the research could strengthen compensation claims by communities hit hardest by heatwaves, from southern Europe to South Asia. Courts in the United States, Europe, and the Global South are already considering lawsuits against oil majors for climate-related damages, and this study provides a new layer of scientific backing.
Experts say the precedent could mirror the tobacco and asbestos industries, where companies faced multibillion-dollar settlements after being shown to knowingly endanger public health. In this case, energy companies may face claims for the rising death toll and economic damage caused by extreme heat.
Industry response and global stakes
Oil and gas producers have consistently maintained that climate change is the result of global activity rather than attributable to individual companies. Industry groups argue that energy demand has been driven by consumers and governments alike, making shared responsibility unavoidable.
Nevertheless, the new research challenges this position by quantifying the contribution of specific companies. With heatwaves intensifying and breaking records almost annually, campaigners say the findings leave little room for denial of corporate culpability.
A turning point in climate accountability
As the world prepares for another round of UN climate talks, pressure on fossil fuel companies is intensifying. If courts begin recognising direct liability for deadly heatwaves, the energy sector could face unprecedented financial risks alongside mounting political and public pressure to transition away from oil and gas.
For communities already devastated by extreme heat, the study offers not only recognition but also a potential legal pathway to demand compensation. It may represent a turning point in holding corporations accountable for their role in the climate crisis.
REFH – Newshub, 13 September 2025
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