According to Euronews.green, fossil fuel companies are active in some 3.000 sites in 800 protected areas around the world, a few hundred being in Europe alone. Experts at the NGO Leave it in the Ground (LINGO) made an analysis that claims exploration and extraction of fossil fuels is taking place in multiple protected areas.

They also suggest that, should the resources in case be fully exploited, this would release around 47 billion tons of carbon emissions.

"Ending fossil fuel extraction from protected areas addresses both, and avoids what would be the tragic destruction of natural heritage and biodiversity in the last years of the fossil age", the authors explained.

The country exploring the most fossil resources in natural conservation areas, according to the analysis, is China, whose oil, gas and coal sites, 18 in total, can produce 12 billion tons of CO2 emissions.

Venezuela, with a potential of 7.6 billion tons, and Saudi Arabia with 3.9 billion tons were the other two greatest offenders.

In Europe, Germany has the most pollution potential from exploited or yet-to-be-exploited gas and coal sites, with a potential of 2.6 billion tons.

It is important for all these countries to stop exploiting fossil resources, especially in these protected natural environments, as this helps protect ecosystems and potentially endangered species of animals.