UK has highest number globally of fossil fuel sites in protected areas

Fossil fuel extraction and exploration is taking place at almost 3,000 sites in protected areas around the world, analysis has revealed, with the UK having the highest number of fossil fuel sites in protected areas.

- Damian Carrington

Globally, the activities affect more than 800 areas established to defend nature. The coal, oil and gas at the fossil fuel sites would lead to 47bn tonnes of climate-heating carbon dioxide if fully exploited, four times the annual emissions of China, the world's biggest polluter.

The sites included are oil and gas operations, coalmines, fossil fuel sites in development and those with exploration licences. "Every single one of these sites is a sign of hypocrisy, saying on one hand that this area is worthy of protection and then on the other hand, bringing fossil fuel extraction into those same areas," said Alice McGown, a geographic information expert at the Leave it in the Ground Initiative (Lingo), which produced the study.