Reading 2: Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

What are fossil fuels?

• Minerals found in deep-sea vents

• Synthetic compounds created in labs

• Metals extracted from asteroids

• Remains of ancient plants and animals

Which fossil fuel is considered the most carbon-intensive?

• Coal

• Oil

• Natural Gas

• Tar Sands Oil

What is the largest source of energy for electricity in the United States?

• Renewables

• Coal

• Oil

• Natural Gas

What is a major disadvantage of strip mining for coal?

• Water pollution

• Air pollution

• Emissions

• Land degradation

What do fossil fuels produce when burned that leads to climate change?

• Carbon Dioxide

• Methane

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen