Principal Energy Uses: Electricity, Heat, Transportation
Form of Energy: Chemical
The three fossil fuels are oil, natural gas, and coal. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from deeply-buried, dead organic material subject to high temperature and pressure for hundreds of millions of years. They are a depletable, non-renewable energy resource.
Fossil fuel combustion (converting chemical energy into heat) powered the Industrial Revolution and is the largest contributor to climate change and air pollution. Significant infrastructure, economic value, geopolitical conflict, and legacy environmental issues are associated with fossil fuels.
Energy Mix
82% of world 🌎
82% of US 🇺🇸
Electricity Generation
60% of world 🌎
61% of US 🇺🇸
Fossil Fuel Dependence of Global End Uses
95% of transportation
>60% of heat
60% of electricity
is provided by fossil fuels
Change in Global Consumption
Increase:
⬆ 3%
(2017-2022)
GHG Emissions Attributed to Fossil Fuels
74% of world 🌎
82% of US 🇺🇸
Drilling and mining impact natural ecosystems and nearby communities.
Transportation of fossil fuels expends energy: coal is moved by rail, barge, or truck, while pressurized pipelines deliver natural gas and crude oil.
Oil requires refining into other petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel before it can be used. Refining is an extremely energy-intensive process.
Burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation is one of the most polluting human activities, releasing greenhouse gases (CO2), air pollutants (NOx and SO2), and toxins. Power plants also use water for cooling.
After combustion, pollutants such as coal ash require management and disposal. Air pollutants can be removed from the smokestack.
Abandoned infrastructure (mines, wells, and refineries) associated with all of the previous stages can cause ongoing environmental problems that outlast the production and use of fossil fuels.
Millions of oil and gas wells and coal mines that are no longer producing still remain. If not properly decontaminated and sealed, they continue polluting the environment.
Pie chart using 2020 data to show the countries in which global proved oil reserves are located. Canada total includes oil sands (95% of Canada's proved reserves).
70% of proved oil reserves are in OPEC nations: Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Other OPEC.
Embed CodePie chart using 2021 data to show the states in which US proved oil reserves are located.
70% of the US’s proved reserves are located in just 4 states - Texas (41%), North Dakota (11%), New Mexico (11%), and Alaska (8%).
