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What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are coal, oil and natural gas formed from ancient plants and animals buried under heat and pressure over hundreds of millions of years. They have powered modern industry and remain central to daily life, but burning them releases carbon dioxide, making them the biggest contributors to climate change.
Their use has risen eight-fold since 1950, and they supply about 80% of the world’s energy for heating, electricity and transport. They are also used to make products such as steel and plastic. Countries agreed to move away from fossil fuels at COP28, but emissions are still rising; Brazil has presented a roadmap to turn that pledge into national plans.
In short
- Fossil fuels formed from ancient organic matter.
- They supply about 80% of global energy.
- Burning them drives climate change.
Explained simply
Coal, oil and natural gas formed over hundreds of millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals buried underground. Heat and pressure changed this material into fuels that people can burn for energy.
Fossil fuels supply much of the energy used for electricity, heating and transport, and are also used to make materials such as steel and plastic. Burning them releases carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.
Governments face the challenge of reducing reliance on these fuels while meeting people’s energy needs. The issue matters because fossil fuels remain widely used, and their emissions are a major source of climate change.