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What's the link between fossil fuels and the climate crisis?

Burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – for power and transport is the main cause of the climate crisis. Along with other human activities (like cutting down forests and farming) burning fossil fuels releases heat-trapping pollution called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

This warms the planet – destabilising the climate, and pollutes the air we breathe. The outcome is extreme weather – floods, droughts, wildfires, longer heat waves, and rising sea levels.

Heartbreakingly, over 90% of the worlds children now breath toxic air.

WHAT CAN WE DO

Human activities that release greenhouse gases need to be reduced now to protect our stable climate and support a healthier world for everyone.

We have known for many years that we can have no new oil, gas or coal projects, and yet fossil fuel emissions are reaching record highs.

Continue reading for more resources to help us understand the role of fossil fuels in the climate crisis. And what steps are needed to move away from them, while supporting the rights of workers in polluting industries.

A 3 MIN EXPLAINER ON THE IMPACTS OF BURNING FOSSIL FUELS

‘Extreme heat. Floods. Droughts. Wildfires. Rising sea levels. To tackle all these symptoms of the climate crisis, we need to fight the disease that causes them.

The disease is the addiction to fossil fuels. The disease is climate inaction. Leaders across the board must wake up and step up their climate action now.’

-António Guterres, UN secretary general

HOW FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION THREATENS CHILDREN'S HEALTH