All about climate strategy notation

How Greenly Medals / Ratings Reward Corporate Success in Climate Strategy

Greenly, a leader in digital carbon footprint assessment and an expert in evaluating the climate performance of companies, has established a system of certificates and medals to acknowledge the maturity of companies in terms of climate strategy, from simply disclosing greenhouse gas emissions to implementing effective emission reductions. These distinctions are awarded to companies that meet specific eligibility criteria. In this article, we explore how these medals are awarded and what they represent for companies committed to ecological transition.

Recognition of Sincere and Sustainable Corporate Commitment

Greenly certificates and medals have been designed to showcase companies that stand out for their maturity in climate strategy. These distinctions are awarded based on the results of evaluations conducted by Greenly, and they are available to companies that meet specific eligibility criteria. There are four levels of recognition: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with the latter reserved for the top 1% of companies that outperform their competitors in environmental performance.

Regulatory Bilan Carbone scope 1, 2 & 3 calculations;Publication ADEME

Advanced carbon footprint calculation;ADEME publication

Short-term decarbonization strategy;Employee awareness;Climate contribution;Supplier commitment

Long-term decarbonation projects;Ambitious responsible purchasing policy

Greenly's Methodology: Rigorous and Comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Assessment

A team of analysts and climate experts carefully examines the submission from the company as well as the documents justifying the stated commitments. Following this analysis, Greenly provides the company with a comprehensive report, along with the final score achieved.

Based on the obtained score, companies are awarded a medal corresponding to their environmental performance. Advancing to a higher level requires unlocking the preceding level:
- Bronze: for companies in the top 25% of evaluations (overall grade ≥C).

- Silver: for companies in the top 10% of evaluations (overall grade ≥B).

- Gold: for companies in the top 5% of evaluations (overall grade ≥A).

- Platinum: for companies in the top 1% of evaluations (overall grade ≥A+)

The Greenly score aims to value the progress of companies at each stage of their carbon strategy: conducting and publishing the greenhouse gas assessment, engaging employees and suppliers, reducing emissions, and contributing to climate projects. Therefore, it serves as a measurement tool for the maturity of your carbon strategy.

As Greenly is committed to encouraging its clients to engage in emission measurement and reduction efforts, the maximum score is 100 points, distributed as follows:

This score is translated into a grade, ranging from E to A+, according to the following levels:


Aligning companies with the reduction trajectory defined by the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement has become a crucial issue for mitigating climate change. Greenly medals provide recognition to companies that have shown true commitment to effectively reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and thereby contributing to environmental preservation.

By adopting a methodical and rigorous approach, Greenly accurately evaluates companies' environmental performance across various aspects of their operations. This enables companies to understand their environmental impact and set realistic decarbonization goals aligned with international agreements.

Beyond recognition, Greenly certificates encourage companies to integrate sustainability and environmental responsibility at the core of their strategy. They also incentivize consumers and stakeholders to make informed choices by favoring companies that are highly committed to decarbonization.

How Can I Use My Greenly Certificates and Medals?

Greenly's certificates and recognition medals are specifically awarded to companies evaluated by Greenly that meet strict eligibility and licensing criteria, highlighting their commitment to climate strategy.

As part of the continuous improvement of our rating system, this methodology is subject to change. Our teams are working on this on a daily basis, and any comments, corrections and proposals for improvement will be studied.

It is also important to note that the Greenly score is different from the Open Climate Ratings.

What is CSR? The main pillars, employee commitment and the carbon assessment, Greenly will explain everything to you!

How to Implement a CSR Approach in Your Company

Establishing socially responsible practices like a CSR approach is crucial to any business model seeking to improve its social or environmental commitments. 

A CSR approach is an excellent step for any company or nonprofit organizations seeking to implement sustainable practices, improve their economic responsibility, or increase their pillar of corporate social or environmental performance.

Responsibility is the pillar to any sustainable plan in development, and ergo – CSR itself. 

Committing to csr initiatives is an indispensable asset for companies seeking to attract today's consumers, and is guaranteed to yield greater business success. There are specialist organizations that can help you to achieve this!

In this article, we'll provide insight on CSR, explained with examples, how CSR impacts society and the environment, different types of corporate social responsibility, and how CSR is generally understood amongst business operations and interactions.

CSR, otherwise known as corporate social responsibility, is a type of corporate sustainability practice that seeks to improve social and environmental performance, establish ethical labor practices, and corporate responsibility, while also pertaining to their economic responsibility.

Common CSR initiatives and types of corporate social responsibility include environmental sustainability, philanthropic responsibility, and establishing socially responsible business practices.

Over the past several decades, business leaders have recognized that they have a responsibility to do more than simply maximize profits. Rather, they have a social responsibility to do what’s best not just for their companies but people, the planet, and society. Here's an overview of what corporate social responsibility (CSR) is and the different forms it can take.

What Is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

According to Boston Consulting Group, companies which aim to have corporate social responsibility rooted into their business models will bring competitive advantages such as reduced employee turnover, a greater willingness to engage in CSR, improved brand image, more interest from local charities concerned with economic, social, and environmental factors, better investor relations, and increased societal expectations for diligence in terms of CST 

More specific sustainability initiatives that CSR companies may take include using sustainable resources, sponsoring local events, providing financial benefits or financial assistance, offering educational materials or free educational services to developing countries or local communities, philanthropic programs, or any CSR activities that enhance productivity.

Committing to a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach is always worth your while – read more to find out why corporate social responsibility initiatives are imperative to the success of your business model.

If you're looking for a breakdown of corporate social responsibility (CSR) explained, here it is:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined by the European Commission as, “a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.”

In simple terms, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is “the contribution of companies to the challenges of socially responsible behavior.”

Therefore, a company that practices corporate social responsibility (CSR) aims to have a positive impact on society through sustainable practices while simultaneously remaining economically viable to their business model.

What are the three central pillars of CSR? 

CSR is represented by three letters, which each demonstrate a pillar of corporate social responsibility.

Economic: This pillar of corporate social responsibility (CSR) establishing fair pricing, offering competitive pay, supporting local suppliers, maintaining corporate governance, seeking operational cost savings, socially responsible investing, building an economically viable business model, being transparent with investors, maximizing profits and seeking to improve financial performance, and satisfying consumers whilst still pertaining to social or environmental challenges.

Social: This pillar of corporate social responsibility (CSR) works at improving equal opportunities and diversity, ensuring safety at work, holding all parties socially accountable, seeking to benefit society and the supply chain, exercising corporate philanthropy, helping employees complete high school, offer education programs, establishing fair trade practices such as preventing child labor, increasing employee engagement, and respecting workers' rights.

Environmental: This pillar of corporate social responsibility (CSR) addressing environmental concerns, such as consuming energy responsibly, managing and minimizing waste in business operations, increasing their environmental efforts, promoting environmental leadership, overcoming various environmental challenges, changing any harmful manufacturing processes, managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and engaging in environmental responsibility.

A CSR approach is the implementation of a company strategy which strives to achieve various corporate social responsibility initiatives such as economic responsibility, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.

It is up to each individual company to decide which actions will be best at improving operational effectiveness, which depends the type of business model, its sector and the territory in which it operates. Regardless, understanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) is pivotal ensure vital business operations, such as the management of your supply chains, remain efficient and sustainable. 

To establish a hierarchy for these issues, a materiality matrix can be used to identify the CSR initiatives or CSR strategies that are most likely to improve the company's performance and sustainability.

The importance of governance is often forgotten by company managers because it is not directly linked to one of the three pillars a part of CSR.

Nonetheless, it covers several essential issues – such as the involvement of the company’s stakeholders in CSR, whether this includes shareholders, NGOs, trade unions or local authorities, the implementation of anti-corruption measures in the countries where the company is based, or the decision not to opt for an aggressive tax optimization policy such as Uber in France.

It is therefore an important point to consider in any company's journey to establish CSR practices.

In order to guide the CSR approach of companies, certain strategic issues have been collectively defined and grouped under the acronym ESG (for Environmental, Social and Governance). Recognised by the international financial community, these ESG criteria are used to assess the level of integration of sustainable development into a company's strategy and to take into account challenges over the long term.

The E covers the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG), electricity consumption and waste recycling.

The S encompasses social dialogue, accident prevention, the quality of the subcontracting chain, employee training and the employment of people with disabilities, where possible.

The G includes the transparency of executive pay, the proportion of women on the board of directors, the independence of the board or the presence of an audit committee.

Each company is free to focus on the most appropriate csr strategies in order to develop tailor-made CSR programs that are relevant to their sector, according to the context and individual sensibilities.

However, take note: corporate social responsibility only yields success if it is implemented as part of a holistic approach like any other philanthropic responsibility.

To support this approach of making corporate social responsibility initiatives a central focus for companies, the French Parliament passed the PACTE law (Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation) in 2019.

This law "aims to give companies the means to innovate, transform, grow, and create jobs".

It represents a fundamental building block in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR): it introduces the notion of “mission-oriented companies”.

Through the use of this new terminology, a company can add a “purpose” or “mission” to its singular role of generating profit for its shareholders, with the aim of initiating its corporate social responsibility practices on a larger scale.

This is the case for Patagonia, Slip Français and also Danone, an example to be further discussed at the end of this article.

Finally, it is clear that in France, corporate social responsibility is becoming synonymous with sustainability, as the increasingly widespread implementation of CSR approaches and laws propel the country towards corporate citizenship.

But to what end? Is corporate social responsibility enough to save the world from climate change?

Okay, so adopting a corporate social responsibility approach is good for the planet, but will it be beneficial for all business models seeking improved financial outcomes?

The answer is an overwhelming, absolute yes.

In February 2020, Oney and OpinionWay published a study on the aspirations and behavior of consumers in France, Spain, Portugal and Hungary.

The results are conclusive: 9 out of 10 respondents expect brands to be socially-engaged and to help them consume better. The study reported that:

90% of European consumers say they are aware of the importance of sustainable consumption and feel that they are taking action to move towards this objective.

In this regard, three aspects of consumption are highlighted as being the main levers for action:

The fight against built-in obsolescence of electrical and electronic products.

Manufacturing methods. In France, over 50% of consumers buy organic food products from local communities, and sort their waste. However, only 25% of all waste in France is recycled. – and only 42% of French households recycle. 

These figures show that a common trend is emerging among European consumers: they are increasingly positioning themselves as “consum’actors” who want to create a positive impact on the environment and global change.

This trend has been heightened by the international health crisis that has impacted local communities around the world, which began in February 2020.

Furthermore, in this period characterized by a lack of trust: with the latest greenwashing scandals – green packaging is now viewed as potentially dubious rather than reassuring. This is a clear example that establishing environmental responsibility through a CSR, or corporate social responsibility approach – is the best way to reassure consumers about what they are buying.

Encourage commitment from your company’s employees 

While consumers represent one side of a coin, employees represent the flip side – those implementing the business strategies from inside the company.

Encouraging employee commitment means establishing a level of trust to which they can relate and have the intrinsic motivation to contribute to the company's overall business success.

If a place such as Harvard Business School establishes a good CSR program, the employees are more likely to devote their energy to the CSR efforts necessary because the objectives underpinning their work have meaning.

Focusing on corporate social responsibility can help to boost this commitment.

Based on a Kantar survey of 1,500 employees, the 2020 edition of the CSR perception barometer published by MEDEF highlights the importance of employee commitment to their professional work.

A commitment to CSR can significantly boost employee retention by improving the company’s image. According to a survey on behalf of Zipdo, 83% of employees working in companies with a poor CSR department would consider quitting. In addition to this, 83% of employees working in companies with a CSR department or function feel that their organization can take pride in having a “positive impact” on society, compared to 59% of employees in organizations without a CSR strategy.

In addition, in companies where there is a CSR department or function, 83% of employees emphasized that they “enjoy their work”, compared to only 64% working elsewhere, and 79% of employees still see themselves working for the same company in three years' time compared to 68% of the others.

The last side of our coin (yes it's a three-sided coin with a triple bottom line) is represented by new recruits, and especially young talent.

Young people are particularly concerned about companies’ environmental commitments and finding meaning in their work.

According to a study by Jam, 15-25 year olds are looking for a company that is committed to them as well as the planet.

Seven out of ten young people think that companies are not sincerely committed to corporate social responsibility.

Taking into account that salaries are generally the same between competitors for employees with equivalent skills and qualifications, the real difference are the values and fair trade practices that your company embodies.

Whether your company is a start-up or a large corporation, no matter how big or small, an honest and transparent CSR approach is worth more than any offer of employment.

The key stages in implementing a CSR approach

After considering these arguments, it is clear that implementing a CSR approach for your company as soon as possible is the best way to reduce environmental impact and create the most ultimately effective business models.

But how do you go about establishing CSR programs?

In general terms, the key stakeholders of a CSR approach include all the entities that interact with the company and which are likely to be affected by its activities:

Internal key stakeholders (managers, employees, trade unions)

External stakeholders (elected representatives, associations, NGOs, subcontractors, suppliers, customers, shareholders, media)

Internally within the company, while the implementation of corporate CSR actions affects everyone, insofar as each individual is free to approach their HR department or line manager with ideas, in theory, it is the CSR manager (or director of sustainable development and social responsibility) who is responsible for defining and coordinating the CSR programs to be implemented for sustainable development.

Their duties include identifying the priority issues to be addressed, steering the CSR approach in collaboration with the organizations various departments (HR, production, safety, etc.), defining success indicators and control processes, developing communication and lobbying actions, producing reports on the actions taken, and finally – monitoring the new policies that must be adopted.

Once all the key stakeholders are prepared and motivated to embark on the company’s transition to corporate responsibility, it is important to understand the company’s current position in order to implement appropriate actions.

A CSR audit involves the establishment of an exhaustive status report on all levels: an environmental and social analysis.

This includes supplier evaluation, waste and construction site reports, etc.  An assessment of GHG emissions is also a good starting point, as it is used to instantly identify the company's major emission sources, and, therefore, the areas in which action must be taken for the company to reduce environmental impact and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Everything is recorded in a table of criteria that must be approved, often with an initial self-assessment followed by a visit from an external consultant.

Step three: implement a CSR communication strategy 

Many companies are now choosing to create and establish CSR programs, which is excellent news for those seeking corporate social responsibility.

However, many companies that choose to commit to CSR programs often forget or neglect to communicate enough about their commitments, even though they aren't obligated to – it is an important step to achieve corporate social responsibility.

Below are some measures for effective CSR communication:

Convince your stakeholders (as identified previously) and adapt your communication to each target: rely more on facts and figures with local authorities for example, and use empathy and humor with consumers (but beware of greenwashing!)

Pitch your CSR project well: be clear about your vision, your missions, and perhaps prohibit terms that have already been overused, such as CSR, in favor of a more informal approach based on anecdotes and concrete actions

Create a CSR brand book: choose a specific tone and colors, as concepts like greenwashing should be taken into consideration here. For example, Green can be a bad color choice if it doesn't accurately depict your company's dedication to corporate governance or social responsibility. (We hope that at Greenly, you've realized, it's do as we say and not as we do :))

 Use all available formats and channels: don't limit yourself to a CSR report, but rather strive to be as transparent as possible and promote your efforts across all networks (podcast, video, infographics); why be shy when you are simply trying to demonstrate your commitment to environmental responsibility and a better world?

Step four: train your employees in CSR to ensure your approach is adopted 

Alongside CSR communication, internal training is essential.

According to a study carried out by the Observatoire Salarié et Entreprise Responsable in January 2020, 39% of employees lacked knowledge of the subject in-house, thus hindering the adoption of CSR practices.

What’s more, almost half of employees struggled to give a precise definition of CSR! Many employees are simply left out of initiatives: only 8% of employees are asked to integrate CSR into their business activity.

However, the most important statistic from the study is as follows: 70% of employees would like to be more involved! 

There is no reason not to go for it: you must train your employees if you want your CSR approach to be sustainable in the long term and they are more than willing to participate.

You don't necessarily need to go back to school to learn about CSR, but below are two examples of certified CSR training:

Companies can get support for their CSR approach from a number of organizations, including: specialized consulting firms, employers' organizations, professional federations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ADEME, or networks of specialized companies.

Implementing a coherent CSR program requires time and money, and it is difficult to estimate the overall cost of the approach because of the cross-disciplinary nature of CSR.

However, it is important to understand that the cost of not adopting a CSR approach will be much higher than the initial investment.

For example, it is logical that reducing energy and resource consumption will reduce the company’s costs while benefiting the environment.

Thus, the company will also improve their financial performance.

Nevertheless, certain costs can be quantified: the creation of a CSR manager role, a Carbon Assessment, the development of a communication campaign and a graphic charter, etc. These expenses will likely include calling in a CSR consultancy firm.

When implementing a CSR strategy, it is an excellent idea to enlist the help of specialist consultancy firms, such as:

These firms aim to offer comprehensive and tailored support to each customer to establish CSR activities.

[Our role] is to facilitate the integration of social responsibility and stakeholder relationship management into the strategy of organisations and to define a differentiating sustainable development positioning that creates value.

Such firms therefore serve as a mentor in CSR: they provide advice, identify issues and highlight where efforts still need to be made. Some of these firms, such as Carbone 4, are experts in Carbon Assessment, the foundation of an effective CSR strategy.

There are many independent experts available that can support you with a practical implementation of a corporate social responsibility approach.

For example, the IMPACTS agency offers advice and training on this subject.

Ask for your carbon assessment, the starting point for a CSR approach

Companies conduct a carbon assessment, among the other CSR actions that must be implemented, in order to evaluate the quantity and source of all their GHG emissions.

It is a crucial first step in going green that is used to make a diagnosis and then find solutions to minimize the company’s environmental impact.

Many organizations offer carbon assessment services, with the two main solutions being either to hire a specialized firm or to opt for company carbon assessment software, like that of Greenly.

Enlisting the help of a specialist company means being provided with comprehensive support throughout the CSR process, but it is a costly investment in terms of time and money (depending on the firm, rates can vary by several tens of thousands of dollars).

This is precisely why software has begun to emerge, which is revolutionizing the carbon assessment market.

The goal is to make the process easier, faster and cheaper. It is up to you to decide which option is best suited to your organization, but a corporation putting in the effort to achieve corporate responsibility is likely to improve their overall supply chain and operational cost savings.

Conducting a carbon assessment is compulsory to align the company with ESG criteria, and has been mandatory in France since the adoption of the Ecological Transition for Green Growth Act in 2015.

Many businesses are affected by this first step towards the development of a low-carbon strategy, in particular companies with more than 500 employees (250 in France’s overseas departments and territories).

5 examples of CSR approaches by businesses

From small companies to major corporations, everyone must commit to building a more sustainable world – and businesses can do so by establishing corporate social responsibility.

Below are two examples of large groups that have opted to implement a CSR strategy and three startups representative of the cause to save the planet.

Danone, the French food giant with a turnover of $21 billion, is an example of a large group that has been committed to its CSR approach for many years. Antoine Riboud, the founder, emerged as the first promoter of sustainable development in 1972: “We should lead our businesses with our hearts as much as our heads, and we must not forget that if the earth’s natural resources are limited, those of mankind are infinite if he feels motivated.”

Internally, the company has based its human rights policy on the GRI 3.0 (Global Reporting Initiative). As a result, Danone can demonstrate how it applies these indicators using concrete examples and measures (via its Food, Nutrition and Health Charter in 2009). The decision to use the GRI framework is evidence of the strength of Danone's CSR initiative, since these indicators demonstrate a voluntary application of standards rather than strict compliance with the law.

Externally, extra-financial rating agencies audit the group’s CSR performance; for example, the Vigeo agency used the ISO 26000 standard to evaluate Danone and found that its results were very good, close to the maximum score. Thus, Danone not only seems to be complying with the law as far as sustainable development is concerned, but also to be taking the initiative with regard to the recommended, but not mandatory – standards.

However, everything is set to change at Danone. On March 14th, 2021 – the board of directors ousted CEO Emmanuel Faber. During his tenure, Faber made some major decisions in terms of CSR, which resulted in decreased profits, and this did not fair well with the shareholders – who have made their desire make profit the number one priority once again known. A decision of corporate governance that should be followed very closely and one that might not work out for the best.

Another example of a large French group being committed to sustainable development is Bouygues. To quote Philippe Bonnave, CEO of Bouygues Construction: “We want to create a low-carbon culture”. With the support of consulting firm Carbone 4, the group's five core businesses announced new climate strategies in December 2020, in line with the Paris Agreement. The company launched a new low-carbon strategy in 2020 (2030 target), which will involve the CEOs of each of the group's business lines.

Among these core businesses, Colas and Bouygues Construction have announced a 30% reduction (40% for Bouygues Construction) for Scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect emissions linked to energy consumption) and 30% for Scope 3a (other indirect upstream emissions, such as the materials used by suppliers). Bouygues Immobilier, the third largest subsidiary in the construction sector, announced a 32% reduction for each Scope category.

However, it is worth noting that large corporations like Danone and Bouygues are still have a long way to go until their csr activities yield drastic social or environmental benefits.

In 2016, WWF published a list of the 25 most polluting French companies... and both groups were on it.

Launched in 2017, this neobank for freelancers has made social responsibility one of its primary objectives. To establish a “responsible bank”, it has implemented measures for employees, the environment and their freelance customers.

According to CEO Nicolas Reboud, the CSR policy at Shine has several aims: firstly, “to try and create the most progressive and healthy working conditions possible”; secondly, “to have the lowest possible environmental impact”; and thirdly, to have “the most positive social impact possible”. These are our famous three pillars. These objectives have been transformed into a number of practical measures.

For example, internally, Shine has amended all of its employee contracts to remove the exclusivity clause and to include one day per month for freelance work: guaranteeing freedom and healthy working conditions to improve employee retention is an example of a CSR approach that works.

The latest initiative by recycling powerhouse TerraCycle, Loop was launched in Paris and New York in May 2020, and in London in October. Milka biscuits in aluminium tins, Signal chewable toothpaste, Coca-Cola in glass bottles and refillable Bic and Febreze pens. In total, the products of over one hundred brands are sold in returnable packaging through Loop. “We chose home delivery to make the experience as smooth and easy-to-adopt as possible. From five loops, i.e. reuse cycles, our products have less impact than the same ones sold in their conventional e-commerce versions,” explains Laure Cucuron, CEO of TerraCycle Europe.

Loop is now under the umbrella of Carrefour, with stands available in most of its supermarkets and through its online store by choosing the Loop option. By applying this concept, jobs can be created and society can move towards zero waste.

The mission of TooGoodToGo is well-established as part of the CSR landscape: to fight against food waste by recovering unsold food from local shops, which is then sold at a lower price on their app.

This directly involves all the central issues of CSR:

Environmental: the manufacturing and transportation of products deplete serveal natural resources (including significant amounts of water), energy, and, therefore, emit a high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

Economic: between €12 and 20 billion worth of food is thrown away in France every year. The figures speak for themselves, and more CSR activities should be implemented to create greater philanthropic responsibility.

Social: in France, one in ten people cannot afford to feed themselves. Therefore, reducing waste could give those people access to food at a lower cost, and help to address the ethical issue of wasting food while others are starving.

If reading this  article about CSR has made you interested in reducing your carbon emission to further fight against  climate change – Greenly can help you!

Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.

Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

When it comes to the main sources of climate change, fossil fuels are still leading the way. Yet in the market of energy production, there are green alternatives that are worth exploring.

Fossil Fuels: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Fossil fuels are widely used in industry and for domestic purposes. They heat our buildings, allow us to travel, and provide us light. Although they have many advantages, these energies are extremely harmful to the planet and to our health. A major source of global warming and 8 million deaths in 2018, there is increasing interest in replacing these fuels with renewable energies. 

👉 What are the advantages and disadvantages of these energy resources? Which green energies can replace them? 

Fossil energy is naturally present in the earth's subsoil, and has been for several million years. Resulting from the accumulation and decomposition of organic matter (methanization), this non-renewable energy is regenerated on a geological time scale. As it is, given the current level of overconsumption, these resources do not have time to renew themselves and reserves are becoming scarce.

To give you a sense of the scope of things, it takes several million years to complete the process of fossil fuel formation. 

Thus, there are different forms of non-renewable energy: liquid, fossil rock, gas or metal. They are extracted :

by direct extraction from the surface of the ground (peat);

by digging in coal mines and open-cast mines (lignite).

Classified as a hydrocarbon, fossil energy is mainly composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. In fact, the burning of this fuel releases large quantities of CO2, which is the cause of global warming. Once extracted, this raw material is transformed into energy, which is then used in various ways (heating, electricity, production, or transport). 

The first use of this resource dates back to antiquity. The combustion of fossil fuels was then used for heating and lighting. However, it wasn’t until the industrial revolution that it became massively exploited. Today, it represents 81% of the world's primary energy consumption.

What are fossil fuels? How were they formed? Learn how human use of non-renewable energy sources, such coal, oil, and natural gas, affect climate change.
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What Are Fossil Fuels? | National Geographic

There are three main sources of fossil energy:  

natural gas, extracted from natural deposits composed of methane. It is the third primary energy source in the world ;

coal, which comes from plant debris and is found several kilometers underground. Its formation began more than 350 million years ago. It is the main source of electricity in the world;

oil or "fossil fuel", which comes from marine organisms (mainly plankton). Known since ancient times, oil is now the world's primary source of energy. This fame is due to the drilling of the American Edwin L. Drake in 1859, which marks the birth of the oil industry. 

The advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are excellent energy sources and offer a particularly advantageous energy yield (especially for oil), all at a low cost. Moreover, their use and the technology required for their exploitation are perfectly mastered. Not to mention that their transport and storage are simple. 

Nevertheless, fossil fuels have many disadvantages, starting with their limited existence. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the consumption of energy resources was 15,025 Mtoe (million tons of oil equivalent) in the world in 2020, and could reach 17,387 Mtoe in 2035. 

Based on our current use, the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2020 estimates that there is approximately :

139 years of coal reserves (about 1074 billion tons) ;

48.8 years of natural gas (188,100 billion tons) ;

53.5 years of oil (244.4 billion tons).‍

In addition, extraction, processing, transportation and combustion emit greenhouse gasses. On March 8, 2022, the International Energy Agency reported that fossil fuels were responsible for 36.3 billion tons of CO2 in 2021 - an all-time high. According to the latest IPCC report, in order to limit warming to +1.5°C, it is imperative to stop coal mining, and to reduce oil and gas use by 60% and 70% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels.

It's indisputable: at the present rate, fossil fuels do not allow the creation of a model for a sustainable society. 

America, under President Donald Trump, is securing its “energy independence” with oil and gas.  But unlike fossil fuels, renewables will not increase global warming —and China is moving fast.

Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: https://econ.st/2xvTKdy

Oil moves the world around and creates powerful countries. Oil is such a vital commodity that it provoked wars throughout the 20th century. The few countries that produce it, try to keep control of it to ensure its riches stay at home. Those who do not have it, strive to get it. 

In the 1930s Saudi Arabia was one of the poorest countries in the world but the discovery of oil transformed it and Saudi Arabia has amassed $515.6 billion in sovereign wealth funds. It has become the linchpin of a powerful cartel that sometimes rations oil to push up prices.

The United States is now the biggest producer of oil and gas owing to its shale revolution. It has tapped abundant reserves through fracking - a technology that uses high-pressure water and sand to fracture rock deep below the ground to extract hydrocarbons. This shale revolution has helped the United States become less dependent on oil imported from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iraq, and other OPEC countries. 

More oil and gas on global markets has also benefited the world's energy consumers by pushing down costs. Oil still remains the primary fuel, supplying almost 1/3 of the world's energy but its heyday may soon be over, despite growing demand. 

By 2040 the world's global energy use is set to increase by 30 percent. That energy must be much cleaner if the world wants to prevent catastrophic global warming. In the past coal and gas were less expensive than renewable technology but their costs have come down dramatically. There is now a race among some nations to create more efficient renewable technologies to reduce pollution and be more energy self-sufficient.

China is the world's largest consumer of coal and the second largest of oil but it also now leads the world in clean energy. one third of the world's new wind power and solar panels is installed in China, and it sells more electric cars than any other country. The quest for energy self-sufficiency is a big motivation for many countries. China is moving fast, and America under President Donald Trump, is securing its energy independence with oil and gas. But unlike oil and gas renewables will not increase global warming. 

The long term transition to clean energy will throw up new global challenges. It will create tensions in unstable parts of the Middle East as oil revenue starts to dry up. Another challenge is that wind and sun are intermittent. renewables may require vast shared electricity grids spanning boarders to make them more efficient. To stop global warming the world needs a huge collaboration over our shared energy future. If we fail, wars over scarce resources could be even worse in the 21st century than in the 20th.

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How to fuel the future

Fossil energy and renewable energy: what is the difference?

Used for centuries, fossil fuels owe their success to their ease of exploitation, as well as to their attractive price. Unfortunately, they are responsible for the pollution of our atmosphere. Moreover, they are only available in limited quantities. At a time when our energy consumption is constantly increasing.

In contrast, renewable energies (also called "green energies"), are inexhaustible and available throughout the planet. We find in particular:

the sun for thermal and photovoltaic energy 

the force of water for hydroelectricity. ‍

These green alternatives are the best way to end our dependence on fossil fuels. Stable prices, less CO2 emissions, no polluting waste... In 2020, renewable energy represented 19.1% of gross final energy consumption. A figure that should double by 2030.

Nevertheless, this solution has a major disadvantage, since it operates intermittently. Dependent on nature and its uncertainties, renewable energy is not available at all times. This is why it is not yet able to completely replace fossil fuels, even if it does reduce their use.

Fossil fuels: a real environmental challenge 

A cause of global warming, the use of fossil fuels is responsible for 70% of CO2 emissions worldwide. This alone is a big deal, and not to mention the fact that they degrade the environment and participate in the destruction of ecosystems. For example, coal mining emits 3.5 tons of CO2 per ton of energy consumed.

The overexploitation of this type of energy is also the cause of many environmental disasters:

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