The US Must Address More Than LNG To Mitigate Climate Change — Global Issues

Opinion by Philippe Benoit, Anne Sophie Corbeau (washington dc)Wednesday, April 10, 2024Inter Press Service

Whereas the Biden administration supposed to ship a message about addressing local weather change, it is very important place the LNG story inside the broader emissions context. LNG exports are a major and visual a part of the pure fuel emissions panorama, however finally attaining worldwide local weather targets would require extra actions that focus on home fuel and world fossil gas consumption.

In line with the Worldwide Vitality Company, pure fuel demand worldwide totaled 4,067 billion cubic meters in 2022, together with 919 billion cubic meters within the U.S. The combustion of this pure fuel produced 7.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide globally. This consists of 1.7 gigatons within the U.S., which is 38 % of U.S. emissions from fossil gas combustion.

Importantly, these figures don’t embrace pure gas-related methane emissions, a strong greenhouse fuel that considerably will increase the local weather impression of fuel use. In 2022, the IEA estimated that world methane emissions from the vitality sector had been 135 million tons along with combustion emissions. Oil and fuel — typically produced collectively — accounted for 58 % of those methane emissions globally, with the U.S. chargeable for round 12 % of the worldwide complete.

Methane emissions estimates fluctuate considerably, prompting efforts at improved satellite tv for pc and different detection strategies.

LNG exports have been a rising a part of the pure fuel panorama however nonetheless characterize a minority share. International LNG commerce reached round 550 billion cubic meters in 2023, representing about 13 % of worldwide fuel demand. The U.S. LNG story is much more putting. Up till 2016, the U.S. exported solely a restricted quantity from one facility. The shale fuel revolution not solely made U.S. fuel cheaper it additionally led U.S. fuel manufacturing to virtually double over the previous 20 years, fueling a surge in LNG exports.

US LNG capability has grown from 0.6 billion cubic meters per yr in 2015 to 124 billion cubic meters per yr in 2023. LNG vegetation presently beneath development are unaffected by the pause and can deliver the capability to over 230 billion cubic meters per yr by the tip of the last decade. Importantly, even after these new LNG export services come on-line by 2030, they may characterize solely 22 % of U.S. home pure fuel manufacturing and 25 % of U.S. fuel consumption.

These figures display that whereas LNG exports characterize an vital and rising use of domestically produced fuel, pure fuel consumption inside the U.S. and its associated emissions characterize an even bigger local weather problem. What can and will probably be achieved to handle these emissions?

On this regard, it is very important perceive how pure fuel is consumed within the U.S. The most important consumer is the facility sector (40 %), adopted by trade, which it additionally makes use of it as feedstock for chemical processes (26 %) and buildings (24 %). Fuel demand within the energy sector might improve additional if current projections concerning quickly growing energy demand show correct. These makes use of drive the place emissions reductions are wanted and the corresponding measures.

The literature is wealthy with methods to handle home pure fuel emissions in america and elsewhere. One instance is changing pure fuel within the energy sector with renewables and different decrease emissions alternate options. Extra environment friendly vitality use can dampen or in any other case cut back the necessity for pure fuel combustion. Including carbon seize, use and storage applied sciences the place possible and financial can even cut back emissions, notably in trade and energy. Furthermore, combining these methods to totally different levels can present even stronger options than implementing them independently.

Additionally it is essential to stress the significance of methane emissions flowing from the home manufacturing and processing of pure fuel, whether or not it’s consumed domestically or exported as LNG or pipeline fuel. Decreasing these methane emissions alongside the entire fuel worth chain should stay a spotlight of local weather motion given its short- to medium-term impression on world warming.

Decreasing pure fuel and different emissions would require motion extending past the federal authorities. This consists of efforts by U.S. states such because the Regional Greenhouse Fuel Initiative carbon market program and California’s 2022 local weather motion plan, in addition to trade, companies, civil society and different stakeholders. It additionally consists of influencing different nations.

Whereas the U.S. presently produces solely about 14 % of worldwide CO2 emissions, because the world’s largest financial system, the wealthiest nation by internet price and the second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China, it units the tone on worldwide local weather motion. With out sturdy U.S. management, emissions from a number of nations could be anticipated to stay properly above what is required to keep away from harmful local weather change. Understanding and addressing the potential emissions generated by US LNG exports is a part of setting that tone, and it carries significance past the precise dimension and share of the LNG-related emissions.

LNG is a vital component within the local weather agenda, however just one a part of the equation. In comparison with home pure fuel consumption or world vitality use total, it’s not even the largest a part of the story.

Addressing emissions referring to the home use of pure fuel and different fossil fuels and inspiring motion overseas by China and different nations, ought to take up the majority of our efforts. LNG-related emissions are vital, however the weight of the local weather change problem lies past it.

This oped was first revealed in The Hill

Philippe Benoit is the managing director at International Infrastructure Advisory Companies 2050. He beforehand held administration positions on the World Financial institution and the Worldwide Vitality Company, in addition to an funding banker specializing in pure fuel initiatives.

Anne-Sophie Corbeau leads the analysis on pure fuel and hydrogen on the Heart on International Vitality Coverage at Columbia College’s Faculty for Worldwide and Public Affairs and is a visiting professor on the College of SciencesPo.

© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal supply: Inter Press Service

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