Potential unexpected bad effects, Whales might have been wiped out for their oil? Likely that we wouldn't have any trees left, either, were it not for coal. I'

Potential unexpected bad effects, Whales might have been wiped out for their oil? Likely that we wouldn't have any trees left, either, were it not for coal. I'm going to get this a bit wrong, but my understanding is that what with making iron implements (whether swords or plowshares) and the like, England was on its way to being stripped of trees. Then coal was discovered. (There was a whole article months ago on HN, talking about iron production, and this particular point. Damned if I can find it, though.)