The International Energy Agency has said that there\u00a0must be no new oil, gas and coal projects if the world is to reach the goal<\/a>\u00a0of net zero emissions by 2050. The three types of fossil fuels: <\/p>\n\n Our world runs on oil. But burning oil is causing climate change and threatening our future. Oil drilling is hugely damaging to the environment and people\u2019s health, and oil companies are still taking huge risks to drill for oil.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Coal is the dirtiest, most polluting way of producing energy. It\u2019s a serious threat to our climate and people\u2019s health. Many countries have stopped or are in the process of stopping using coal completely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Gas is a fossil fuel burned for heating and to produce electricity. Malaysia is heavily dependent on gas, but there are alternatives, such as renewables, insulation and heat pumps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n Burning fossil fuels is one of the main\u00a0causes of climate change.<\/p>\n\n When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the air. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet up. These gases are naturally present in the atmosphere and without them, Earth would be much colder<\/a>. But burning fossil fuels has pushed more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than humans have ever seen. So more heat is getting trapped and our planet is warming faster than any point in human history.<\/p>\n\n Coal and oil are some of the biggest contributors to climate change. Gas is often pushed as a \u2018cleaner energy source\u2019 than coal and oil. But it\u2019s still a fossil fuel, so using it still contributes to global warming<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n A warming climate from fossil fuel burning causes more\u00a0extreme weather.<\/p>\n\n Extreme weather events, such as floods and heatwaves, are happening more often all over the world. But many places around the world that have contributed the least to climate change are suffering more from extreme weather.<\/p>\n\n As well as speeding up climate change, burning fossil fuels releases tiny particles (known as particulates) and harmful gases that pollute the air, water and land.<\/p>\n\n Air pollution from burning fuels like coal and oil was found responsible for one in five deaths globally in 2018<\/a>. It\u2019s also been linked to health problems like heart disease<\/a>, lung conditions<\/a> like asthma, and even dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n But exposure to air pollution<\/a> from producing and burning fossil fuels is not the same for everyone. It\u2019s much more likely to affect people of colour and low-income communities, both in the US<\/a> and in England<\/a>. This makes fossil fuel production a clear example of environmental injustice<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Alongside carbon dioxide, burning fossil fuels also releases toxic gases (like sulphur dioxide and nitric oxides) high into the air. These dissolve in water vapour and oxygen in the air, and fall to earth as acid rain<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Acid rain can make water habitats more toxic for some plants and animals. It can damage forests by robbing the soil of important nutrients, making it harder for trees to take up water. It also damages buildings and other man-made structures, and causes health problems.<\/p>\n\n It\u2019s not just burning fossil fuels that hurts us and the planet. Harvesting, processing and distributing fossil fuels cause a host of problems too.<\/p>\n\n Coal mining can mean removing mountain tops<\/a> and stripping large areas of land.<\/p>\n\n Oil drilling the sea bed poses risks to ocean life through oil spills<\/a> from accidents and transporting it on ships. Oil refineries also pollute the air and water. This is dangerous for human health as well as the environment.<\/p>\n\n All fossil fuel extraction can cause pollution, due to the need to remove waste material. Oil drilling involves gas flaring<\/a>, for example, to reduce pressure which can cause explosions.<\/p>\n\n Again, fossil fuels tend to be extracted and refined in the poorest countries and communities \u2013 meaning more severe impacts for people of colour.<\/p>\n\n Even with more awareness of the climate crisis and government pledges to cut emissions<\/a>, recent analysis suggests that fossil fuel emissions are reaching record highs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Part of the challenge is that the fossil fuel industry is heavily embedded in our political and economic systems.<\/p>\n\n![\"Fire](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GP021E7_PressMedia-640x0-c-default.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOil <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coal](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GP0STQDU2_PressMedia-640x0-c-default.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCoal<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GP0STRKAJ_PressMedia-640x0-c-default.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGas, explained<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Fossil fuels and climate change<\/h2>\n\n
Extreme weather<\/h3>\n\n
Environmental pollution and harms to people<\/h2>\n\n
Air pollution<\/h3>\n\n
Acid rain<\/h3>\n\n
Problems with extracting coal, oil and gas<\/h2>\n\n
Politics and fossil fuels<\/h2>\n\n