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One-fourth of the global residents dwells less than 5km of functioning coal, oil, and gas facilities, potentially endangering the well-being of over 2bn human beings as well as critical ecosystems, per pioneering analysis.

International Distribution of Coal and Gas Sites

More than 18,300 oil, gas, and coal sites are presently distributed in over 170 nations globally, occupying a vast expanse of the planet's surface.

Closeness to wellheads, processing plants, pipelines, and other oil and gas installations raises the threat of cancer, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular issues, premature birth, and fatality, while also posing serious dangers to water sources and air cleanliness, and harming soil.

Close Proximity Hazards and Planned Development

Approximately over 460 million individuals, counting one hundred twenty-four million children, presently live within 0.6 miles of fossil fuel operations, while a further 3,500 or so upcoming facilities are now under consideration or under development that could require 135 million additional individuals to experience pollutants, gas flares, and accidents.

Nearly all functioning sites have formed toxic concentrated areas, turning surrounding communities and essential ecosystems into referred to as expendable regions – severely polluted locations where low-income and vulnerable groups bear the unequal weight of exposure to pollution.

Health and Ecological Effects

The report outlines the severe health toll from mining, processing, and transportation, as well as demonstrating how spills, flares, and development destroy unique ecological systems and weaken human rights – notably of those residing close to petroleum, natural gas, and coal mining infrastructure.

The report emerges as world leaders, not including the US – the greatest past source of greenhouse gases – assemble in Belém, the South American nation, for the 30th annual climate negotiations in the context of growing disappointment at the limited movement in eliminating fossil fuels, which are leading to planetary collapse and human rights violations.

"Coal and petroleum corporations and their public supporters have maintained for decades that societal progress depends on fossil fuels. But research shows that under the guise of financial development, they have rather favored profit and earnings unchecked, breached rights with widespread exemption, and harmed the climate, ecosystems, and seas."

Climate Negotiations and International Urgency

Cop30 takes place as the Philippines, the North American country, and the Caribbean island are reeling from superstorms that were intensified by higher air and sea temperatures, with countries under mounting demand to take strong steps to control coal and gas firms and halt mining, financial support, authorizations, and use in order to follow a historic judgment by the global judicial body.

In recent days, reports indicated how over 5,350 fossil fuel industry lobbyists have been given entry to the UN global conferences in the last several years, obstructing emission reductions while their employers drill for record amounts of oil and gas.

Research Approach and Data

This data-driven analysis is based on a first-of-its-kind geospatial project by experts who compared information on the identified locations of fossil fuel infrastructure projects with population data, and collections on essential environments, carbon emissions, and tribal territories.

A third of all active petroleum, coal, and gas locations coincide with multiple critical environments such as a swamp, forest, or aquatic network that is teeming with wildlife and vital for carbon sequestration or where natural degradation or catastrophe could lead to ecosystem collapse.

The actual global extent is possibly higher due to gaps in the reporting of oil and gas operations and limited demographic information across countries.

Ecological Inequality and Tribal Peoples

The findings demonstrate deep-seated environmental inequity and discrimination in exposure to oil, natural gas, and coal mining operations.

Native communities, who comprise 5% of the world's residents, are disproportionately exposed to dangerous fossil fuel operations, with 16% sites located on tribal territories.

"We face intergenerational battle fatigue … Our bodies will not withstand [this]. We were never the starters but we have borne the force of all the violence."

The spread of coal, oil, and gas has also been connected with land grabs, traditional loss, population conflict, and income reduction, as well as force, digital harassment, and lawsuits, both criminal and civil, against local representatives peacefully resisting the building of conduits, mining sites, and other operations.

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