Fossil industries promise net emissions reductions

Now seems to be the season for fossil fuel companies to announce grand plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. On 12 February, BP’s new chief executive, Bernard Looney, outlined the company’s ambition to become a ‘net zero’ company by 2050. Meanwhile Ivan Glasenberg of Glencore (the world’s biggest exporter of thermal coal) predicted his company would reduce its absolute emissions (including those produced by its customers) by 30% by 2035.

Such pledges are welcome steps in the effort to mitigate the potentially catastrophic impacts of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, they need to be backed up by real, and visible, action.