Environmental Danger of Fossil Fuels
While the most damaging impact of fossil fuels is their combustion and the subsequent creation of carbon emissions, the extraction processes for coal and petroleum also cause considerable damage to the environment: destruction of habitats, removal of local vegetation and vegetative cover, pollution of ground- or surface-water, excessive waste from purification processes, acid rain, oil spills, and more. The extraction and consumption of fossil fuels worsens the temperature crisis and weakens crucial natural ecosystems, increasing the likelihood of climate disasters and the harm that follows. Damaged ecosystems limit the productivity of food sources, the structural integrity of both human and natural landmarks, and human health. Although fossil fuels continue to make up most of the world’s energy sources, renewable resources like wind and solar energy are becoming cheaper and more available, and providing an increasing amount of the world’s power.
