The rapid expansion of fossil fuel projects has sparked a global health crisis as a quarter of the world’s population live within 5km proximity of these projects, thereby affecting 2 billion people and biodiversity ecosystems, according to an Amnesty International first-of-its-kind report.
As per the report findings, almost 463 million people, including 124 million children live within 1km of these coal, gas, and oil sites.
Consequently, the proximity to these fossil fuel facilities make not only the people prone to the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and premature birth and death, but also leads to damage to air and water quality and critical ecosystems.
The report also revealed that more than 18,300 gas, oil, and coal sites are currently spread across 170 countries.
3,500 new projects or sites have also been proposed that could endanger the lives of 135 million more people by exposing them to flares, fumes, and spills, according to Extraction Extinction: Why the Lifecycle of Fossil Fuels Threatens Life, Nature, and Human Rights.
“The fossil fuel industry and its state sponsors have argued for decades that human development requires fossil fuels. But we know that under the guise of economic growth, they have instead served greed and profits without red lines, violated rights with near-complete impunity, and destroyed the atmosphere, biosphere and oceans,” said Agnès Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International.
The report came as the world leaders have gathered in Brazil for ongoing COP30 in order to proceed with climate action negotiations.
“Cop30 leaders must keep people, and not profits and power, at the heart of negotiations by committing to a full, fast, fair and funded fossil-fuel phase-out and just transition to sustainable energy for all,” Callamard added.
The expansion of fossil fuel projects has been associated with cultural pillage, land grabs from indigenous people, and loss of livelihoods.
According to the UN special rapporteur on climate change, fossil fuels pose a threat not only to children and older people but also to future generations.
“The climate crisis is a manifestation and catalyst of deep-rooted injustices. The age of fossil fuels must end now," added Callamard from Amnesty.
