A new global analysis has revealed that ongoing and planned fossil fuel projects pose severe health risks to nearly two billion people, exposing them to air pollution, toxic emissions, and climate-driven environmental degradation. The findings, published by an international consortium of public-health and environmental researchers, underscore the growing human cost of continued reliance on coal, oil, and gas.
Communities at risk
According to the report, people living within 25 kilometres of major extraction sites, refineries, and power plants are at heightened risk of respiratory disease, cardiovascular problems, and premature death. The greatest concentrations of such projects are found in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, where weak regulatory frameworks and rapid industrial expansion have led to worsening air quality and environmental stress. Children, the elderly, and low-income communities are identified as the most vulnerable groups.
Widening global inequality
Researchers warn that the health burden falls disproportionately on developing countries, despite most fossil fuel investment being financed by companies based in the global north. In South and Southeast Asia, for instance, coal-fired power plants continue to expand even as Western nations pledge to phase out coal domestically. This pattern, campaigners argue, amounts to “outsourced pollution,” where the environmental and human costs are exported to poorer regions.
Policy failures and slow transition
While many governments have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century, the report highlights that over 400 large-scale fossil fuel projects remain under development, including new oil fields and gas pipelines. Health experts say these projects directly contradict international climate and health goals, warning that the continued expansion of fossil fuels will negate decades of progress in reducing pollution-related illnesses.
Call for urgent action
Public-health organisations are urging policymakers to accelerate investment in clean energy and to include health impacts in environmental assessments. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution from fossil fuels already contributes to over seven million premature deaths each year. Without decisive intervention, analysts warn, billions more will be exposed to worsening air quality, food insecurity, and climate-related disasters in the coming decades.
Newshub Editorial in Global – 12 November 2025
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