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A quarter of the international population resides inside 5km of operational fossil fuel projects, possibly risking the health of more than two billion human beings as well as essential natural habitats, based on pioneering research.

International Spread of Oil and Gas Sites

In excess of eighteen thousand three hundred oil, natural gas, and coal mining locations are presently spread throughout 170 countries around the world, taking up a extensive territory of the Earth's terrain.

Nearness to wellheads, refineries, transport lines, and additional coal and gas installations elevates the threat of malignancies, respiratory conditions, heart disease, preterm labor, and death, while also posing severe threats to drinking water and atmospheric purity, and damaging soil.

Nearby Residence Risks and Future Growth

Almost 463 million individuals, including 124 million youth, currently reside inside 0.6 miles of fossil fuel locations, while a further three thousand five hundred or so upcoming sites are currently under consideration or under development that could compel one hundred thirty-five million additional individuals to experience emissions, gas flares, and accidents.

The majority of active operations have created pollution hotspots, turning nearby neighborhoods and critical environments into so-called disposable areas – highly toxic zones where low-income and vulnerable populations carry the disproportionate load of exposure to pollution.

Physical and Ecological Effects

This analysis outlines the devastating physical consequences from mining, treatment, and transportation, as well as demonstrating how spills, burning, and building destroy priceless natural ecosystems and weaken individual rights – especially of those dwelling close to petroleum, gas, and coal operations.

It comes as global delegates, excluding the USA – the largest historical producer of carbon emissions – assemble in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th environmental talks during rising disappointment at the lack of progress in ending oil, gas, and coal, which are driving planetary collapse and civil liberties infringements.

"Coal and petroleum corporations and its public supporters have claimed for decades that societal progress requires coal, oil, and gas. But research shows that under the guise of economic growth, they have instead served profit and earnings without limits, infringed rights with almost total impunity, and harmed the climate, biosphere, and seas."

Climate Talks and International Pressure

The environmental summit takes place as the the Asian nation, the North American country, and the Caribbean island are dealing with superstorms that were strengthened by warmer atmospheric and ocean temperatures, with states under mounting demand to take strong steps to control fossil fuel corporations and end drilling, government funding, licenses, and demand in order to follow a landmark ruling by the international court of justice.

Last week, revelations indicated how more than five thousand three hundred fifty fossil fuel industry influence peddlers have been granted admission to the international environmental negotiations in the recent years, obstructing climate action while their employers drill for unprecedented amounts of petroleum and gas.

Analysis Process and Data

The statistical analysis is derived from a groundbreaking location-based exercise by experts who compared information on the identified locations of oil and gas operations locations with census information, and datasets on vital ecosystems, climate releases, and Indigenous peoples' areas.

33% of all active oil, coal, and natural gas locations intersect with several key ecosystems such as a swamp, forest, or aquatic network that is rich in species diversity and vital for CO2 absorption or where environmental degradation or disaster could lead to habitat destruction.

The true global scope is likely greater due to gaps in the reporting of fossil fuel sites and limited census records throughout states.

Environmental Injustice and Tribal Peoples

The data demonstrate long-standing ecological injustice and discrimination in exposure to oil, gas, and coal industries.

Indigenous peoples, who account for 5% of the world's people, are unfairly vulnerable to health-reducing oil and gas operations, with 16% facilities located on Indigenous lands.

"We endure multi-generational struggle exhaustion … We physically won't survive [this]. We are not the starters but we have endured the force of all the conflict."

The expansion of coal, oil, and gas has also been connected with land grabs, traditional loss, population conflict, and income reduction, as well as force, digital harassment, and lawsuits, both illegal and civil, against population advocates non-violently opposing the development of pipelines, extraction operations, and other operations.

"We never pursue money; we simply need {what