Open Access

Daniela Utsch

• The fight against global warming and the challenge of reducing CO2 output are critical issues for emitters, such as the fossil fuel sector. Many governments, acting in concert, will heavily regulate emissions in the future to not exceed a 2°C increase in temperature, as agreed on in the Paris Agreement in 2005. Heavy investments in renewables, research and development, and carbon storage are signs of the beginning of this progress to energy transition. Due to the increases in CO2, measured in the atmosphere, many environmental organizations and scientists have studied the matter carefully. Their results show that if nations continue on their current path and do not decrease their CO2 output, it will take no longer than 26 years to exceed the 2°C limit. The fossil fuel industry, as the main emitter of CO2, will have to depreciate many of their reserves, because CO2 containing fossil fuels listed on stock exchanges exceed the amount absorbable by the earth. This means, that if the content of CO2 recorded on worldwide stock exchanges would be extracted, an increase beyond 2°C is foreseeable. The bubble, similar to the Lehmann Brother case in 2008, will burst someday and cause high losses when extraction limits are implemented. The impact of climate change related emission regulations on entities´ financial statements is identified as a research gap. This study focuses on the accounting standards and depreciation of minerals as it is an important matter for the current and future economic situation. Depending on current actions taken by extracting entities and governing power the future for the energy industry will look very different from today.