fossil fuel

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Also known as: mineral fuel

Recent News

Jun. 7, 2023, 3:36 PM ET (AP)
Campaigners want fossil fuel firms to pay into climate calamity fund; diplomats dubious
Environmental campaigners are calling for fossil fuel producers to contribute to a new fund intended to help poor countries cope with climate disasters
Jun. 7, 2023, 11:50 AM ET (AP)
Shell's clean energy advertising campaign is misleading, UK watchdog says
A marketing campaign by oil major Shell has been banned by the U.K.’s advertising watchdog Wednesday for implying a big proportion of its business was in low carbon energy even though fossil fuels make up the “vast majority” of its operations
Jun. 6, 2023, 4:54 AM ET (AP)
Japan earmarks $107 billion for developing hydrogen energy to cut emissions, stabilize supplies
The Japanese government has revised its plans to increase the use of hydrogen as a fuel source in order to reduce carbon emissions, and the new plan was adopted on Tuesday.
Jun. 5, 2023, 4:52 PM ET (AP)
Amount of warming triggering carbon dioxide in air hits new peak, growing at near-record fast rate
The cause of global warming is showing no signs of slowing as heat-trapping carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere has increased to record highs in its annual Spring peak
Jun. 5, 2023, 3:39 PM ET (AP)
Agenda spat at UN climate talks as top official sees chance to ask 'difficult questions' in Dubai
Nations have resumed talks on tackling global warming with the aim of shaping a deal that might put the world on track to prevent a dangerous increase in temperatures

fossil fuel, any of a class of hydrocarbon-containing materials of biological origin occurring within Earth’s crust that can be used as a source of energy. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils. All contain carbon and were formed as a result of geologic processes acting on the remains of organic matter produced by photosynthesis, a process that began in the Archean Eon (4.0 billion to 2.5 billion years ago). Most carbonaceous material occurring before the Devonian Period (419.2 million to 358.9 million years ago) was derived from algae and bacteria, whereas most ...(100 of 562 words)