🔗 Share this article

A quarter of the world's population resides within three miles of active oil, gas, and coal sites, likely endangering the physical condition of over 2bn individuals as well as vital natural habitats, according to groundbreaking research.

Global Distribution of Coal and Gas Operations

In excess of 18.3k petroleum, natural gas, and coal locations are currently distributed across one hundred seventy states around the world, covering a vast area of the planet's surface.

Proximity to wellheads, industrial plants, pipelines, and other oil and gas operations elevates the threat of malignancies, lung diseases, cardiovascular issues, early delivery, and fatality, while also causing grave dangers to water sources and air quality, and damaging soil.

Immediate Vicinity Dangers and Planned Development

Nearly over 460 million people, counting one hundred twenty-four million youth, now live less than 0.6 miles of oil and gas locations, while an additional three thousand five hundred or so proposed projects are now planned or being built that could force one hundred thirty-five million more people to face pollutants, gas flares, and accidents.

The majority of operational operations have created toxic concentrated areas, transforming adjacent populations and critical habitats into often termed disposable areas – heavily contaminated zones where economically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities bear the unfair weight of contact to pollution.

Health and Ecological Consequences

This analysis describes the devastating health consequences from drilling, processing, and shipping, as well as illustrating how spills, burning, and construction damage unique ecological systems and compromise human rights – especially of those dwelling in proximity to oil, gas, and coal facilities.

This occurs as world leaders, without the US – the biggest past emitter of climate pollutants – meet in Belem, Brazil, for the 30th annual global climate conference in the context of growing concern at the limited movement in ending oil, gas, and coal, which are leading to global ecological crisis and civil liberties infringements.

"Oil and gas companies and their state sponsors have argued for many years that economic growth depends on coal, oil, and gas. But we know that masked as financial development, they have in fact promoted self-interest and revenues without red lines, violated liberties with near-complete impunity, and damaged the climate, biosphere, and seas."

Climate Discussions and Global Pressure

The climate conference takes place as the Philippines, the North American country, and Jamaica are dealing with superstorms that were worsened by increased air and sea heat levels, with countries under mounting demand to take firm steps to regulate coal and gas companies and stop drilling, financial support, authorizations, and use in order to follow a landmark ruling by the international court of justice.

Recently, reports showed how over over 5.3k oil and gas sector lobbyists have been granted admission to the United Nations global conferences in the recent years, hindering emission reductions while their paymasters pump historic volumes of oil and gas.

Analysis Methodology and Findings

The quantitative research is based on a innovative mapping effort by scientists who cross-referenced information on the known locations of oil and gas facilities sites with population data, and collections on vital environments, carbon emissions, and native communities' areas.

33% of all active oil, coal, and gas locations overlap with multiple key ecosystems such as a swamp, jungle, or waterway that is abundant in biodiversity and critical for emission storage or where ecological deterioration or catastrophe could lead to habitat destruction.

The actual international scope is likely greater due to gaps in the recording of oil and gas operations and incomplete census information throughout countries.

Natural Injustice and Tribal Populations

The data show entrenched environmental injustice and bias in proximity to petroleum, natural gas, and coal operations.

Native communities, who comprise 5% of the world's population, are unequally vulnerable to health-reducing oil and gas operations, with one in six locations located on native territories.

"We endure long-term resistance weariness … We physically will not withstand [this]. We are not the initiators but we have taken the brunt of all the violence."

The growth of coal, oil, and gas has also been connected with property seizures, heritage destruction, social fragmentation, and economic hardship, as well as violence, online threats, and legal actions, both penal and legal, against local representatives peacefully opposing the construction of pipelines, mining sites, and additional facilities.

"We never seek money; we simply need {what