New York, December 09, 2025
The food and fossil fuel industries are causing an estimated $5 billion in environmental damage every hour globally, underscoring urgent economic and ecological risks linked to climate change and pollution. This damage stems primarily from fossil-fuel-dependent food systems and fossil fuel combustion worldwide, with consequences escalating in 2025.
Environmental Damage Costs
Recent analyses reveal that the combined impact of food production and fossil fuel use inflicts around $5 billion in environmental harm each hour, totaling $15 to $20 trillion annually. These costs—equivalent to the entire annual GDP of China or the European Union—reflect the hidden economic burdens of climate change, ecosystem degradation, pollution, and health impacts embedded in current industrial practices. The scale and persistence of these damages highlight a systemic challenge to global sustainability and economic stability.
Fossil Fuels and Food Systems
Approximately half of all synthetic fertilizers derive from fossil fuels, whose production and application emit potent greenhouse gases, notably nitrous oxide. This gas has 273 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, contributing disproportionately to climate change. Additionally, fertilizer runoff leads to severe nutrient pollution, creating “dead zones” in oceans including the Gulf of Mexico, where aquatic life is devastated. Fossil fuel dependence in food systems thereby amplifies both climate and biodiversity crises while underpinning enormous environmental costs.
Health and Pollution Impacts
Fossil fuel combustion remains the dominant source of global air pollution, responsible for about 85% of particulate pollution worldwide. This pollution results in substantial health burdens—billions of dollars annually in healthcare expenses, increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and premature deaths across populations. The environmental damage from fossil fuels extends beyond health, disrupting ecosystems and accelerating climate-related risks worldwide.
Rising Fossil Fuel Emissions
Despite scientific consensus on the climate emergency, fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions are on an upward trajectory, projected to reach a record 38.1 billion tonnes by 2025. This trajectory exhausts the remaining carbon budget needed to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C well before 2030. The accelerating emissions exacerbate environmental degradation and associated financial damages, making urgent transformations imperative.
The extensive damage linked to fossil-fuel-driven food systems and energy consumption demands immediate systemic change. Shifting toward agroecological practices, reducing synthetic fertilizer reliance, and decarbonizing energy production are critical steps to mitigate ongoing harm. Without such actions, the intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and public health will intensify, imposing further financial and social costs worldwide.