sign that says no fracking with red triangle and exclamation mark and a renewable wind turbine in the background

You’ve likely heard that fossil fuels are bad.

But do you know why?

With part three of the IPCC report just released, scientists are clear on one thing:

Fossil fuels have got to go.

"It's now or never." The final part of the IPCC report is quite clear in its message. It's our final chance to keep the planet from heating up to 1.5°

With the most recent deadline of 2025 to stop producing greenhouse gases, we need as many people as possible to join the fight against fossil fuels.

You don’t have to be knowledgeable, you don’t have to be an environmentalist and you certainly don’t have to be an activist to get involved. All that matters is you want a safe planet to live on and a future that is sustainable for everyone.

In this post, I’m going to simply explain what fossil fuels are, why they are bad and 10 facts about their social and environmental impact.

What are fossil fuels?

The main fossil fuels are crude oil (petroleum), natural gas, and coal. They are made from plants and animals that died millions of years ago.

Burning fossil fuels creates energy that is used to make electricity and fuel.

Fossil fuels are made from plants and animals that died millions of years ago. Burning them creates energy that is used to make electricity and fuel. what are fossil fuels? - crude oil, natural gas, coal

The problem with fossil fuels

Burning fossil fuels creates large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is making the Earth hotter than it should be.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that emissions from fossil fuels are the main contributor to global warming.

In 2018, it was reported that 89% of global carbon emissions came from the fossil fuels industry.

There are many other problems with oil, coal and gas. Extracting and burning them has a devastating impact on the environment causing huge amounts of pollution and environmental disasters.

There are also many human rights exploitations, health issues, and scandals associated with fossil fuels corporations.

10 Facts about the impact of fossil fuels

A fracking well uses between 1.5 - 16 million gallons of water.
Wastewater from a fracking site is released back into the environment, contaminating drinking water with toxic chemicals like lead, arsenic and mercury.
Over 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels.
At least a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels is absorbed by the ocean which changes its pH and impacts wildlife.
Sea levels have risen 9 inches and are causing freshwater to be contaminated with saltwater making it undrinkable.
Fossil fuels produce toxic air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen and mercury, which cause health issues like cancer, heart disease and asthma.
People of colour are more likely to be exposed to air pollution that was created by white people. A study found Black and Hispanic Americans inhale 56% and 63% more pollution particles than they produce.
Air pollution from fossil fuels can cause acid rain which can contaminate freshwater causing harm to fish and other wildlife
Oil spills have a catastrophic effect on the environment and can happen when crude oil is being extracted or transported. Oil spills poison sea creatures and birds, destroy habitats and harm communities.
Coal is a dirty fuel, it produces the most carbon emissions and has severe impacts on health.

It is so important that we (especially us from more privileged backgrounds) put pressure on the government to stop funding fossil fuels corporations. They need to stop giving them massive tax breaks and grants and invest significantly in renewable energy.

One way you can do this is by popping your thoughts or concerns in an email to your MP. You can do this easily at writetothem.com.

We can stop climate breakdown but we have to act right now. This is our last chance, are you in?

Here’s some graphics you can share on social media: