Bold start: A handful of fossil fuel giants are driving nearly half of America’s carbon emissions, and the public deserves to know exactly who they are—and how big their impact is. But here’s where it gets controversial: the list points to a broader debate about energy, accountability, and the path to a cleaner future.
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) have released the Greenhouse 100 Suppliers Index, which identifies the largest corporate contributors to greenhouse gas emissions stemming from fossil fuel supply chains.
The leading players are Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Exxon Mobil, and Valero Energy, each producing fossil fuels that generated more than 250 million metric tons (roughly 275 million tons) of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions.
Following them, Core Natural Resources—which resulted from the merger of Arch Resources and CONSOL Energy—and Peabody Energy rank highly due to their coal mining activities. Rounding out the top ten are Chevron, Enterprise Products Partners, PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela S.A.), and PBF Energy. Collectively, these ten fossil fuel suppliers account for about 44% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
The index is based on 2023 emissions linked to oil, natural gas (primarily methane), and coal, using what may be the latest publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. It’s worth noting that last year the EPA signaled an intention to wind down most of that program and pause remaining reporting until 2034.
“The Greenhouse 100 Index informs consumers, shareholders, regulators, lawmakers, and communities about corporate releases of climate-altering pollutants into our environment,” said Michael Ash, PERI co-director of the Corporate Toxics Information Project. “The EPA’s move to effectively end the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program removes access to crucial public information and leaves decision-makers—whether in the public or private sectors—relying on incomplete, voluntary, or potentially biased reports.”
The Greenhouse 100 Index is freely accessible online and includes a search tool listing all 778 companies that report to the EPA’s program, including privately held firms like Koch Industries, which ranks 11th on the Suppliers Index with more than 100 million metric tons (about 110 million tons) of CO2-equivalent releases.
The online resource also provides state-by-state rankings and analyses detailing the companies and facilities responsible for each state’s fossil fuel supply. Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, California, and Illinois emerge as the highest-impacted states in this context.
Ash emphasized the project’s purpose: to honor the legacy of the right-to-know movement by making environmental information accessible and actionable. The aim is to empower public participation in environmental decision-making and to help communities turn the right to know into the right to clean air, clean water, and a livable planet.
Notes for readers who want more context:
- The data reflect 2023 emissions from oil, natural gas (methane), and coal.
- The public guidance about the EPA program’s future suggests potential gaps in long-term, standardized disclosure.
- The findings highlight where policy and industry accountability intersect, inviting readers to consider how regulation, markets, and innovation can drive meaningful reductions in emissions.
Would you like this rewritten version tailored for a specific audience (policy-makers, investors, general readers) or adjusted to emphasize particular aspects (economic impact, health implications, or climate strategy) even more?
