There are various ways through which the fossil fuel industries contribute to land degradation, sometimes even though it may not be easily noticeable. Construction of oil wells, mines, and refineries requires the use of large amounts of land in order to have space for the installations. This leads to the degradation of ecosystems in said land and the removal of vegetation cover that holds the soil in place. Once vegetation cover is removed from an area, the area becomes vulnerable to erosion through water and wind. Heavy machinery used in the construction of the facilities also compacts the soil, making it hard for plants to grow in those areas.

There is constant damage done to the land by fossil fuels. Leaking or spilling of hazardous chemicals through machine leaks or contamination at a drilling site can make the soil unusable for both agriculture and ecosystems. Oil drilling leaves behind waste, such as drilling mud and coal ash, which can be removed at the risk of new leaks into the nearby land. These constant impacts can affect ecosystems as well as communities reliant on the land to survive.