Purpose: To discuss the nature of fossil fuel use.

As more countries consider the environmental impacts of capturing and using different forms of
energy, the era for previous power-houses like coal is coming to a close. This post will explore the
accessibility, development, and trading of upcoming fossil fuels around the globe.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) have, and continue to, play a dominant role in global energy systems. Fossil
energy was a fundamental driver of the Industrial Revolution, and the technological, social,
economic and development progress which has followed. Energy has played a strongly positive role
in global change.

However, fossil fuels also have negative impacts, being the dominant source of local air pollution
and emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. The world must therefore balance
the role of energy in social and economic development with the need to decarbonise, reduce our
reliance on fossil fuels, and transition towards lower-carbon energy sources.

This entry presents the long-run and recent perspectives on coal, oil and gas – global and national
production, consumption, reserves, prices and their consequences