“While MAGA Republicans wilfully deny the urgency of the climate crisis, condemning the American people to a dangerous future, my Administration will not be complacent.”
Biden hits out at Trump, saying 2024 rival wants stock market crash
Biden hits out at Trump, saying 2024 rival wants stock market crash
The US is the world’s leading LNG exporter, averaging 11.6 billion cubic feet (328 million cubic meters) per day according to the tracker CEDIGAZ, with seven terminals currently in operation.
Under the plan, new export applications would be subjected to an indefinite review considering climate and wider environmental and economic impacts.
Facilities impacted include Venture Global’s proposed Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) in Louisiana, which would be the biggest terminal in the country and release the equivalent annual emissions of 42-million cars, according to a letter penned to Biden in December by 170 scientists.
Scientists and environmental activists welcomed the move.
“It’s very important and appropriate for the administration to conduct a wide review to really understand the implications of exporting natural gas, particularly expanding capacity at this point in time,” said Dan Lashof, director of the non-profit World Resources Institute.
He added that while a transition to renewables would eventually happen no matter who was president, “if there is a government policy of green lighting new fossil fuel supplies, at a minimum that will be slowing down the transition at a time when we should be accelerating.”
Fossil fuel industry groups reacted strongly. The Independent Petroleum Association of America said in a statement the plan would “bolster Russian influence” in the European gas market.
China’s demand for LNG imports may double over next decade: Cheniere Energy
China’s demand for LNG imports may double over next decade: Cheniere Energy
But according to a recent letter by 60 European parliamentarians to Biden, while US LNG had previously helped the continent avoid an energy crisis brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU member states are now reducing their gas demand.
“Europe should not be used as an excuse to expand LNG exports that threaten our shared climate and have dire impacts on US communities,” they wrote.
Robert Howarth, an environmental scientist at Cornell University, said that while natural gas has something of a reputation as a cleaner fossil fuel in the eyes of the public, “that’s based on advertising from the oil and gas industry.”
G7 ‘burying heads in sand’ on climate change with ‘temporary’ gas investments
G7 ‘burying heads in sand’ on climate change with ‘temporary’ gas investments
While it does produce less carbon when burned than coal and oil, this does not factor in the full life cycle of production and transport to end users, which involves leaks of the powerful greenhouse gas methane throughout.
According to his research, the overall greenhouse impact of LNG is roughly 25 per cent worse than coal, even when the best technologies are employed.
Exporting LNG was barred until 2016 to safeguard the domestic supply of gas, but the ban was lifted following a decade-long fracking boom – and the exports have led to gas and electricity price hikes to US consumers too, added Howarth.
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Cop28 climate summit closes with agreement to ‘transition’ from fossil fuels
Cop28 climate summit closes with agreement to ‘transition’ from fossil fuels
For Anne Rolfes, director of the campaign group Louisiana Bucket Brigade, the pause couldn’t come soon enough for the state, where existing LNG development has destroyed coastal wetlands and left residents more vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes.
“People have already had to move away because of rising sea level and increasing storms, yet this industry plans to build on that fragile coast,” she said.
Fisherman Travis Dardar added that catches were down by more than 50 per cent in his native Cameron Parish, as LNG companies bought and tore down fishing docks.
“They’re sacrificing the seafood industry for the petrochemical industry,” he said.