Over 250 environmental and community organizations have united in a plea to the administration of US President Joe Biden, urging an immediate cessation of support for liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to its detrimental impact on climate change.
Led by Friends of the Earth, these groups have delivered a compelling letter to President Biden during the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai, where nations are actively advocating for a global agreement to phase out the use of CO2-emitting fossil fuels, including LNG.
Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, represents natural gas used for heating and electricity that has been cooled to a liquid state for ease of transport and storage.
Climate activists passionately argue for the gradual elimination of fossil fuels like LNG in favor of renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.
The letter emphatically calls for the immediate cessation of permitting new LNG facilities and the discontinuation of financial and diplomatic support for the LNG industry.
Notably, the Biden administration approved five US LNG export licenses, specifically to serve the European market, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, having granted none prior to this event.
The United States currently holds the title of the world’s largest exporter of LNG, with a significant portion of these shipments destined for Europe as part of efforts to reduce reliance on Russian gas.
According to government data, carbon dioxide emissions stemming from US LNG facilities have surged by a staggering 81% since 2019.
“Any push for a phase-out of all fossil fuels at COP28 risks falling flat if the world’s leading LNG exporter shows no signs of changing course,” the letter said. “We urge the Biden administration to publicly commit during COP to no further regulatory, financial, or diplomatic support for LNG in the United States or anywhere in the world.”
As Biden contemplates approvals for fossil fuel projects leading up to the US presidential election next November, he faces the challenge of aligning his decisions with environmentally conscious voters who constitute a substantial part of his support base.
At present, the White House has not issued an immediate response to this appeal.
The Energy Information Administration reports record-breaking U.S. LNG exports, averaging 11.6 billion cubic feet per day during the first half of 2023, marking a 4% increase from the same period in the previous year.
In November, approximately 68% of U.S. LNG exports were directed to Europe, as indicated by LSEG data.
